A MIDDLE-AGED woman suffering from mental illness was forced to spend the night in police cells despite officers repeatedly trying to get her a bed in Green Lane Hospital, Devizes.

This week the mother-of-four grown up children, who suffers from a personality disorder and has been admitted to the Devizes Hospital a number of times in the past, spoke of her terror of being locked up.

She said: "I kept on being told I would be taken to Green Lane. But then I was told there were not enough staff at the hospital and I would have to stay in the cell overnight.

"I was really frightened and begged them not to shut the door. But I was closed in all night. I was also handcuffed when we got to the police station before I was taken inside."

This week as Wiltshire Police showcased its mental health triage service based at police headquarters in Devizes as part of Mental Health Awareness Week it admitted that in this case it had not been possible for the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership to help the woman.

Sgt Mike Hughes, who is the force's mental health liaison officer, said: "It is disappointing that a bed could not be found for her at Green Lane.

"Officers rang on a number of occasions but due to lack of staff it was not possible for her to go there.

"The triage team were involved and were also trying to find her a place. It is not what we would want to happen. The police do not want to put people like this in the cells but it is happening more and more, probably at least once a month."

The triage team of mental health nurses are based in the police control room and give advice to officers dealing with patients with mental health issues.

The woman, 54, who lives near Melksham, said she had tried to contact a mental health worker on numerous occasions last week as she knew she was becoming manic.

When she did not receive help she took too much of her prescription medication in an attempt to feel better. But by Wednesday afternoon she knew she needed emergency help and got her adult son, who also has health problems, to ring the mental health partnership.

It is understood that the Green Lane team then contacted police and asked them to attend as a shortage of staff meant there was no place for her at the hospital.

She said: "The police arrived and told me to pack an overnight bag as I would be going to Green Lane but as there was not enough staff I would be taken to Melksham police station to wait.

"They were kind to me but then when we got to the police station they said they had to handcuff me to go inside. I was very upset about that."

On Thursday morning after seeing a doctor she was released and had to get a taxi home.

She has now made an official complaint to Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership.

A spokesman for the trust said: “We are grateful to this family for bringing their concerns to us and have assured them that we are treating them seriously. Our initial investigations show that our processes were followed correctly but we will keep the family updated as our investigations continue.

“We work alongside police and other partners to offer advice and support and reduce the need for members of the public who are experiencing mental health issues to be taken into custody.”