First reported 20 Mar 2015•Latest report 25 Jul 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of policies, protocols, guidance, training, implementation or operational practice specifically governing police conveyance or attendance involving mental health patients during crises.
Not included
Excludes generic police response delays or staffing shortages not specifically tied to mental health patient conveyance or attendance.
Excludes general inter-agency mental health assessment arrangements that do not concern police conveyance or attendance.
Excludes unrelated ambulance capacity or emergency transport failures without a specific police conveyance component.
Reports
4
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
5
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2015–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
11
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.
Department of Health and Social Care2
Association of Ambulance Chief Executives1
College of Policing1
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust1
Metropolitan Police Service1
National Police Chiefs’ Council1
North London NHS Foundation Trust1
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust1
Nottinghamshire Police1
Thames Valley Police1
Whittington Health NHS Trust1
Police force3
Ministerial department2
National policing body2
NHS trust2
Health-sector membership body1
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.
South Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised2
Failure of police training on ambulance conveyance for s.136 detainees
Lack of joined-up agency policy for s.136 detention and conveyance
This report raised 9 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.2
Action
Support forces to develop local protocols with partner agencies.
Stated by College of PolicingStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 29 July 2025.
Action
Issue comprehensive guidance on safe conveyance, including health-based vehicle provision and arrangements for section 136 detainees.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 July 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Operational and local partnership concerns are being addressed by Nottinghamshire Police, which is providing the full response.
Stated by College of PolicingRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Agreeing a joint agency policy for section 136 detentions is the responsibility of East Midlands Ambulance Service and the police.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Oxfordshire
Concerns raised1
Inadequate partnership agreement coverage for mental health crisis situations
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.1
Action
Review the interagency partnership protocol to address crisis-response gaps.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 15 August 2019.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Multi-agency Protocol changes cannot be implemented until all parties have fully agreed them.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Confusion about voluntary attendance of patients with mental health needs accompanied by police
This report raised 12 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.1
Action
Develop and finalise Emergency Department guidelines for patients brought by police.
Stated by Whittington Health NHS TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 29 April 2015.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Failure to implement nationally a policy limiting police attendance at mental health wards to threats to staff or disorder
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.7
Action
Continue working with police, Home Office and Department of Health partners to improve ambulance response speed and ambulance conveyance under Section 136.
Stated by Association of Ambulance Chief ExecutivesStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 March 2015.
Action
Work with the National Police Chiefs Council to ensure ambulances are requested for Section 136 incidents and reduce police conveyance.
Stated by Association of Ambulance Chief ExecutivesStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 March 2015.
Action
Develop further guidance and training with police, professional bodies and mental health trusts to support local restraint protocols.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 March 2015.
Action
Revise the Mental Health Act Code of Practice to provide statutory guidance on restrictive practices and restraint.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 March 2015.
Action
Examine the role, legal basis, responsibility and safe practice for police involvement in mental health restraint through an expert reference group.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 March 2015.
Action
Report the expert reference group’s initial findings on the role of police in mental health settings by the end of the calendar year.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 20 March 2015.
Action
Issue national instructions requiring monitoring and review of police requests to mental health environments, with escalation and supervisory involvement whenever restraint occurs.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 20 March 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Existing local policies and crisis plans provide the arrangements for cross-agency mental health crisis responses rather than a single national system.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
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Includes failures of policies, protocols, guidance, training, implementation or operational practice specifically governing police conveyance or attendance involving mental health patients during crises.
