Evaluation of knowledge on Section 136 of mental health act in Police officers in Cheshire

Section 136 allows a Constable to remove a mentally disordered person from a public place to a place of safety for up to 72 hours. There has been an increasing rise in the use of section 136 of mental health act with recent reviews showing that in 2005-2006 there were 11000 detentions under section 136 in police stations and about 5500 detentions in hospitals. More recent data has shown a significant increase in the number of those detained under Section 136 in hospital. The data for England found 7035 such assessments in 2007 rising in successive years to 8495 and 12038 (Care Quality Commission, 2010). In this context it would be imperative to evaluate the knowledge on Section 136 of mental health act amongst the police personnel. Only one relevant study was found after an extensive literature search in this domain and this showed that the knowledge among the police on this area was poor (Lynch et al 2001)

A structured questionnaire based on code of practice of mental health law on section 136 was outlined. Mental health law experts and legislators have been consulted in formulation of this questionnaire. This questionnaire has been distributed within the police force of Warrington city, Cheshire.

The results are still awaited but would be obtained in few weeks time and this could be sent over to the submission Panel as addendum.