I was asked a while ago about a situation where a psychiatric unit had reported a “voluntary” patient as “AWOL” – absent without leave. In case you’re unaware, the specific legal status of “AWOL” applies only to patients who have been legally detained under the Mental Health Act and admitted to hospital on a compulsory […]

“Consideration should be given to authorising a section 140 bed as the 136 clock will expire in 2hrs’ time.” If you read section 140 of the Mental Health Act 1983, you will not see the word ‘bed’ within it.  Indeed, you will not find that word in the entirety of the Mental Health Act.  People […]

The appalling attack in Kent on Tuesday against the British Army’s Lt Col Mark Teeton has seen the arrest and immediate prosecution of a suspect, Mr Anthony Esan, for attempted murder. In drafting another post, yet to be published, I was thinking back over cases of attempted murder because this offence often helps us infer […]