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<p>The Government is already taking action to prevent the inappropriate use of police
cells as a place of safety under the Mental Health Act 1983.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>The Government has an ambition to reduce this practice by 50% this year – and
to see how police and health colleagues can work together so that it does not happen
at all to children and young people.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Last year the number
of people taken to police cells as places of safety fell significantly. Emerging figures
for police forces for 2014-15 appear to be continuing this downward trend.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The police have told us that between the six months of April
and September this year there have been 2,282 such cases – which, if maintained over
the rest of the year, would result in a further 24% decrease in use of cells over
last year. At the same time the use of health-based places of safety increased by
3,019 uses between 2012-13 and 2013-14.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This puts us
well on track to achieve our aim of reducing the 2011-12 figure of 8,667 uses of police
cells by half in 2014-15.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In February, we published
a Crisis Care Concordat to make sure people in crisis get the help they need. All
localities are working to complete local crisis declarations agreed by all the local
relevant agencies, by the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In conjunction
with the Home Office, the Department of Health has conducted a review of section 135
and section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This is due to report shortly.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The new Children and Young People's Mental Health and Well-Being
Taskforce will also be looking at the issue of under 18s being detained in police
custody as part of its Access and Prevention work.</p><p> </p>
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