First reported 6 Nov 2017•Latest report 24 Apr 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the dedicated Section 135 warrant process, including officer understanding of the statutory procedure, access to warrant information, pre-entry briefing and risk assessment, warrant verification, role allocation, entry arrangements and related safeguards for people in mental health crisis.
Not included
Excludes Section 136, Section 5, Section 17 leave and other Mental Health Act processes unless the assertion explicitly concerns a Section 135 warrant.
Excludes generic police training, briefing or risk-assessment deficiencies where Section 135 warrant operation is not the identified safety concern.
Excludes clinical mental-health assessment, treatment or detention decisions after the warrant-entry process has operated adequately.
Excludes general police entry, search or premises-access failures without a Section 135 mental health warrant context.
Reports
5
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
10
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2017–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
28
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Metropolitan Police Service3
NHS England3
Department of Health and Social Care2
Ministry of Justice2
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Birmingham City Council1
College of Policing1
Home Office1
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust1
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board1
Nottinghamshire County Council1
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust1
Nottinghamshire Police1
OneLondon Board1
Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire1
Police force5
Ministerial department4
Executive non-departmental public body3
NHS trust3
English county council1
English metropolitan district council1
Health-system partnership1
Integrated care board1
National policing body1
Police and crime commissioner1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Inner West London
Concerns raised2
Lack of awareness of the section 135 MHA 1980 process
Failure to locate and identify information about a section 135 MHA 1980 warrant
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Review Authorised Professional Practice guidance and consider the report’s concerns in resulting amendments.
Stated by College of PolicingStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 19 June 2026.
Action
Deliver comprehensive training on Mental Health Act sections 135 and 136, including communal-area powers, warrants, and safeguarding.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 June 2026.
Action
Strengthen policy and operational processes for identifying, executing, and managing requests for assistance at section 135 warrants.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 June 2026.
Action
Continue reinforcing Mental Health Act and Right Care, Right Person training through regular audit and quality assurance.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 19 June 2026.
Action
Record section 135 warrants on police intelligence systems accessible to all officers.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 June 2026.
Action
Implement the electronic Mental Health Act system to complete, process and securely share statutory documentation across organisations.
Stated by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 June 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The Metropolitan Police Service is responsible for addressing operational elements and decision-making processes and is providing the substantive response.
Stated by College of PolicingRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Inner North London
Concerns raised2
Delays in scheduling police execution of s135(1) warrants
Delays in obtaining Magistrates Court hearings for s135(1) warrant applications
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.9
Action
Review police databases, conduct warrant-execution risk assessments, and record and supervisor-ratify controls on MHAA RA3 forms.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Review the corporate section 135 warrant process and incorporate matters raised in the report and identified learning.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Prioritise mental health warrant applications as priority-one work when allocating court time.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Provide remote mental health warrant applications with online self-service booking.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Provide two separate remote warrant sessions daily on weekdays, with capacity exceeding typical demand.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Maintain an open-door process allowing applicants to obtain immediate access to a courtroom for warrant applications.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Provide out-of-hours access to the Judiciary for urgent mental health warrant applications seven days a week.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Provide a central team and access routes through London magistrates’ courts for urgent warrant applications.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Provide practitioners with guidance describing booking arrangements for non-urgent, urgent and out-of-hours applications.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
Arrangements for executing warrants, including any fast-track procedure, do not fall within magistrates’ courts’ responsibilities.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Responsibility for applying to court for a section 135(1) warrant rests with Approved Mental Health Professionals, who are the only authorised applicants.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The application was non-urgent, was granted within three working days, and involved no delay attributable to court listing.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Existing booking, open-door, urgent and out-of-hours arrangements provide sufficient access to magistrates’ courts for mental health warrant applications.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Inner North London
Concerns raised2
Reliance on encouraging voluntary return before applying for a warrant
Risk of patients harming themselves or others before s135(2) warrant execution
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Review the corporate section 135 warrant process and incorporate learning and matters raised in the prevention of future deaths report.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Consider whether an immediate police response is required while a section 135(2) warrant application awaits the court’s decision.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Review police databases, conduct a risk assessment, and record and supervisor-ratify risks and control measures before executing section 135(2) warrants.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Operate the remote application and online self-service booking system for mental health warrants, with daily remote sessions and additional urgent access routes.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Action
Reiterate London magistrates’ court arrangements for routine, urgent and out-of-hours warrant applications to NHS colleagues.
Stated by HM Courts & Tribunals ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Failure to learn and correct identified unsafe beliefs about section 135 warrants
Misunderstanding between agencies about urgent section 135 warrant requirements
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Present the revised memorandum to frontline staff and deliver engagement, support and scenario testing.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham City Council and NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and West Midlands PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 October 2019.
Action
Develop electronic action cards setting out staff processes and inter-agency interactions.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham City Council and NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and West Midlands PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 18 October 2019.
Action
Operate multi-agency call-in and prioritisation for Section 135 requests.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham City Council and NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and West Midlands PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 October 2019.
Action
Obtain formal multi-agency approval for the revised police-assistance memorandum.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham City Council and NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and West Midlands PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 October 2019.
Nottinghamshire
Concerns raised2
Inability to pre-arrange ambulance attendance during execution of a s.135 (1) MHA Act 1983 warrant
Lack of a formal briefing or risk assessment before entry under a s.135 (1) MHA Act 1983 warrant
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Launch the Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat establishing agreed protocols for local mental health crisis responses.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 12 February 2018.
Action
Work with local areas to embed and improve their Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat action plans.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 12 February 2018.
Action
Develop a more robust joint process for communicating demographic and essential risk information between AMHPs and police before s135 warrant execution.
Stated by Nottinghamshire County CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 12 February 2018.
Action
Introduce a typewritten s135 information document for magistrate completion and electronic transmission to police, including recent risk assessments and environmental factors.
Stated by Nottinghamshire County CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 February 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Operational discharge and conveyance arrangements are matters for local health services, commissioners, providers, ambulance services and police.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Pre-booking an ambulance for section 135 or 136 attendances has always been available, although operational demand affects prioritisation.
Stated by East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Police risk assessment before executing a section 135 warrant is outside the respondent’s remit and will not be addressed.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
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Includes failures in the dedicated Section 135 warrant process, including officer understanding of the statutory procedure, access to warrant information, pre-entry briefing and risk assessment, warrant verification, role allocation, entry arrangements and related safeguards for people in mental health crisis.
