Will the police stay with someone in this situation

[User2627]

Relative is on a police section and has been taken to our local general hospital for treatment. The treatment will last 21 hours minimum possible more. I know they have to do the assessment within 24 hours will they come and do it or will it just be left?

I think yes, unless they contract out prisoner watch services.

Why, are you hoping to sneak them out in a bag of laundry?

In all seriousness, I hope they, and you, are ok.

Assuming they are on a section 135 or 136 then a police officer will stay with them. The section lapses if an officer is not present. If might not be the same officer if the shift changes.

If they are sectioned to the hospital they are receiving treatment in then the police don't have to stay.

No they aren’t arrested just on a police section as they are unwell at the moment. So I’m not sure if they will hand over to staff at the hospital?

Yes they have a duty of care.

The police will have taken them to a hospital, which is considered to be a place of safety. Once admitted, they won't stay unless any crimes have been committed which necessitate a police guard. I doubt this is the case in 99% of situations.

I hope your relative feels better soon and gets the help they need.

It’s an a&e department. So he will no longer be on section when the police leave?

They will only stay if risks are unmanageable by hospital staff (assuming you mean sections 135/ 136 of the MHA). Are they in the general A&E or in a 136 suite?

The police don't have to stay with someone on a s135/136 once they've delivered them to a "place of safety".

He’d still be on section until the assessment is completed/ the time period elapses (but the assessment should be completed within the time frame)

Police leaving doesn't change the person's status. If assessment can't be conducted within the 24 hours it can be extended by a further 12 hours.

Thanks all. Doesn’t he have to be medically stable for them to do an assessment?

Will he be moved to our local 136 suite or just kept to wait in a&e?

The section lapses if an officer is not present.

Not true.

To both questions: it depends.

Different areas have different policies.

Technically the whole "medically cleared" thing is a nonsense in terms of MH assessments. It's meaningless.

Although obviously if he was unconscious for example he can't be assessed.

The police aren't expected to stay for more than an hour after the handover has taken place, however they would have liaised with the hospital/ambulance/MH practitioner to find out the most appropriate place to take them.

The police will not stay with someone under section 136 once they have been handed over to the appropriate mental health professionals.

Can he still be assessed while receiving treatment via an iv drip?

I'm not sure about that side of things but the police will not stay with him.

It can be extended op.

Hope you are ok

Being on an IV drip would not mean he could not be assessed. But other things might, for example if he was too drowsy to have a proper conversation.

Will he be informed when the assessment is?

@User2627, I don't know if anyone here can give you the advice you're looking for. Maybe you should call the hospital.

I’ve not heard anything all day. The hospital won’t tell me anything as he’s an adult.

Section 136 is rather complicated and the interpretation will depend on the county you or your relative are in. I think it highly unlikely an assessment would take place in the hospital ward with an iv drip in place so they would look to do the assessment once they are medically stable. That said if the treatment is really lengthy they may make emergency arrangements. Police won't stay unless there are safety risks associated with relative (for instance violent outbursts or self harm attempts). If you are next of kin you may be given update if relative is found to be without capacity but if released or admitted voluntarily then it will be up to relative if they want you to know. It's frustrating but similar to medical procedures. You would only know about it if the person was not deemed as having capacity to make decisions about their own care and you had a right to know.