Unreliable Liaison and Diversion processes for people in custody
First to latest report 23 Jun 2022 — 9 Aug 2024
Reports that mention this concern
3
Times this concern has been raised
5
Stated actions linked to this concern
15
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the explicitly named Liaison and Diversion process, including recognition of contact triggers, referral or diversion decisions, role and responsibility arrangements, liaison between custody and Liaison and Diversion providers, and continuity of contact at release.
What is not included
Excludes generic mental-health, custody, communication or responsibility failures that are not explicitly tied to Liaison and Diversion.
Excludes unrelated youth diversion, Mental Health Liaison Team or community mental-health pathways unless the assertion explicitly connects them to Liaison and Diversion.
Excludes failures in clinical treatment or custody practice where no Liaison and Diversion control is deficient.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
NHS England2
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Home Office1
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1
Mitie1
National Police Chiefs’ Council1
Recipient name withheld1
South Yorkshire Police1
Sussex Police1
West Midlands Police1
Police force3
Executive non-departmental public body2
NHS trust2
Ministerial department1
National policing body1
Prison operator1
Type not available1
Reports and published responses 3 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of appropriate LDS-police liaison templates
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
National Police Chiefs’ Council
NHS England
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
NHS England
Develop a standard template and guidance with NPCC and CPS for transferring relevant Liaison and Diversion assessment information to police.
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Add a standard template for written information shared with police colleagues to the Custody Pathway SOP.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
National Police Chiefs’ Council
The memorandum concerns should be addressed by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex Police and MITRE.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
South Yorkshire (Eastern)
Concerns raised2
Failure to understand processes for involving the Liaison and Diversion team
Lack of understanding of triggers for Liaison and Diversion contact during custody and at release
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
South Yorkshire Police
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
South Yorkshire Police
Circulate clarification on Liaison and Diversion triggers and priorities and place a reference flowchart at booking-in desks across all three custody suites.
South Yorkshire Police
Hold individual discussions with the CPAG Custody Inspector for Custody Sergeants A and B to highlight lessons learned from the investigation.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
South Yorkshire Police
CONNECT does not prevent custody officers from entering the Liaison and Diversion flag to identify and prioritise detainees.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Insufficient understanding of the L&D police custody suite model’s role and limitations
Lack of clarity about responsibility for mentally unwell persons in custody
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Home Office
NHS England
West Midlands Police
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.11
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Discuss interagency responsibility and information-sharing for mentally unwell people in custody at the next JSOG meeting.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Develop and publish a weekly bulletin explaining the Liaison and Diversion Service’s role and limitations.
NHS England
Present the respective PCHS and L&D responsibilities for mental health crises at the NPCC Custody Forum Conference.
NHS England
Commission and publish a career and competency framework defining L&D roles and required competencies.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Discuss cross-agency information sharing and clarify Liaison and Diversion Service responsibilities at the Joint Strategic Operational Group meeting.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Publish a weekly bulletin explaining the Liaison and Diversion Service’s role and limitations to improve internal understanding.
West Midlands Police
Provide frontline staff with clear advice on the nature, scope and limitations of the current Liaison and Diversion function.
NHS England
Present the respective PCHS and L&D responsibilities for mental health crises at the NPCC Custody Forum Conference.
NHS England
Continue collaborative work with Police and Crime Commissioner counterparts to align PCHS, Liaison and Diversion specifications, responsibilities and locally commissioned services.
West Midlands Police
Provide all frontline staff with clear advice about the nature, scope and limitations of the current Liaison and Diversion function.
Home Office
Work with policing and health partners to improve escalation processes between police and NHS services.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.8
West Midlands Police
Custody staff may rely on and defer to qualified healthcare practitioners for mental and physical health assessments.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
NHS England
It would not be practicable for NHS England to commission a service to take on the Police Custody Healthcare Service role.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
NHS England
Responsibility for responding to mental health crises in custody rests with police custody healthcare services, not Liaison and Diversion services.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
NHS England
Existing national service specifications sufficiently clarify which services are responsible for responding to people in mental health crisis in custody.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
West Midlands Police
Detainee welfare does not require direct police recruitment of clinicians because locally commissioned healthcare provision should be available.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
NHS England
Psychiatrists are not presently considered necessary within L&D teams because non-urgent needs receive supported community mental health referrals.
No action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
NHS England
PCHS, rather than L&D, is responsible for responding to people in mental health crisis and facilitating required Mental Health Act assessments.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
NHS England
Existing PCHS and L&D service specifications sufficiently clarify responsibility for responding to people in mental health crisis.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.