EXTRA steps are being taken to cut the number of people being detained under the Mental Health Act being kept in prison cells when there are no care facilities available.

As reported this week, a Swindon Borough Council report has shown while figures have fallen in recent months, a lack of beds and transport is still an issue.

The report highlighted the case of one patient who had to spend 29 hours in a cell before being taken to a correct facility.

However, a cross-agency is working to find new ways to try and tackle the problem, which has been possible after the Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group successfully bid for extra cash.

This has allowed the creation of a team of mental health-trained specialists to accompany police officers encountering those suspected of suffering from mental health issues in Swindon.

The project is called Street Triage and involves ‘boots on the ground’, plus provision of mental health trained specialists also based in The Wiltshire Police Control Room in Devizes to advise police call handlers covering the whole of The Swindon and Wiltshire Constabulary Area.

Dr Peter Crouch, clinical chair of Swindon CCG and former principal police surgeon for both Wiltshire and Thames Valley Police forces, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded this pilot funding and to be putting in place a scheme that should help provide specialist trained mental advice at an early stage whenever Wiltshire police encounter people who are suspected of suffering from mental illness in Wiltshire and Swindon.

“The one-year Street Triage pilot scheme which will go live soon will be evaluated throughout the forthcoming year to see how effective it is at improving collaborative working for the benefit of the patients identified and jointly managed by the police and mental health services working closely together.”

The aim from all the relevant agencies is to eliminate the need for patients to be kept in police cells unless in exceptional circumstances when the person poses a danger to themselves or others.

Police and Crime Commissioner has said he will be bringing a report to the council’s health and wellbeing board.

Speaking earlier on the subject he said: “People who are facing a mental health crisis need to be cared for by trained health professionals in safe and suitable accommodation.

“Too often they have ended up in police cells which can be stressful for the individuals concerned.

“The intention is that no one of any age with a mental health condition should be in custody.

“We are working hard to ensure that they are looked after in a suitable environment.”