The Policing and Crime Act 2017 is the latest in a long list of legislation which has attempted to amend Section 135 and Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 to make them more compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as to address contemporary national concerns.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Approved Mental Health Professionals and Police Officers are very often at the forefront of decision to remove people who are suspected of being mentally unwell to Places of Safety. These decisions often have to made quickly and in a highly pressured environment. The legislation surrounding such decisions is complex, yet failure to properly understand and apply it can result in members of the public being wrongfully detained, in contravention of their basic Human Rights.

This one day course enables the AMHP to take a step back and review their practices through a combination of practical exercises and a careful examination of the legislative framework.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understand the steps they will need to take to avail themselves of the legal protection afforded by Section 139 Mental Health Act 1983.
• Define what does (and what does not) comprise a “Place of Safety”.
• Properly apply the principles of necessity and proportionality when deciding whether to remove a member of the public to a Place of Safety.
• Effectively calculate the various new time limits introduced by the Policing and Crime Act 2017.