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Original poster

Urgent: Section 136

12 replies

sufmd · 25/12/2021 23:29

Does anyone with any experience know what a section 136 is? Got a very vague message from a family member hours ago just saying 'Police section, taking my phone away' not heard anything since.

Is a 136 usually if they harm themselves or someone else? or can it be anything mental health related?

OP posts:
Mummapenguin20 · 25/12/2021 23:35

Im not sure sorry

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 25/12/2021 23:37

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/20/section/136

Myusername2015 · 25/12/2021 23:38

Section 136 under the mental health act gives police to power to detain someone for up to 24 hours for their own safety; they are generally taken somewhere to be assessed but they can be taken to a safe place such as home if judged that is suitable,

GreenTeaPingPong · 25/12/2021 23:39

Info from Mind:
section 135 and 136

plominoagain · 25/12/2021 23:39

The short version is that police have powers under sec 136 of the MHA to take someone to hospital for a mental health assessment if they are being a danger to themselves or others . Has to be in a public place , and means they are being taken to a place of safety for assessment by mh professionals to see if further treatment is required .

Yummypumpkin · 25/12/2021 23:40

Yes it's mental health and either risk to others or...much more likely...themselves.

In all probability will be discharged after assessment in a few hours.

It's not a criminal record or anything like that.

Ieatmarmite · 25/12/2021 23:41

AFAIK it means the police taking you to a place of safety if they think you have a mental disorder or "if you are in need of care or control". They will have consulted with a medical professional beforehand.

MHEP · 26/12/2021 01:15

Hi op
It is s136 of the Mental health act. Police have power to take someone to a place of safety, which will most likely be a "place of safety suite" at a nearby mental health hospital. The section allows the person to be kept there for up to 24 hours. They will not be allowed to leave whilst a decision is made about what happens next. During this time, the person will be observed by nurses, will be offered food and drink, and will be in their own room.

The doctor will decide if a mental health act assessment is needed. If one is needed, two doctors and an approved mental health professional (usually a social worker) will assess to decide if the person needs to be sectioned or not. I would expect the social worker to be trying to contact family members to get collateral information.

If the person is sectioned, the nearest relative will be informed (this is not necessarily the same person as the next of kin).

Ilovemycatsomuch · 26/12/2021 01:46

Hello, I have been placed under section 136 before (more than once). Basically, if the police find you in a public place where you are at risk to yourself or others, and they feel you need immediate care, they can detain you under section 136 of the mental health act. It's happened to me when I was suicidal and in a public place. The police always treated me very well when this has happened. They don't treat you as if you are a criminal....because you're not. They were generally very kind and caring. But you are legally detained and they can use handcuffs etc if necessary. They will take you to a 'place of safety'. Normally this is a mental health hospital. Normally it's a locked unit and you have to stay there until you have a mental health assessment with a psychiatrist and a social worker. The psychiatrist and social worker make a decision on what happens to you next. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that when I went through a really bad time with my mental health, this happened to me on a number of occasions. It is horrible waiting around for the assessment but you are given food and drinks and a place to sleep and someone to talk to if the mental health nurses aren't too busy. Ive been in a few different place of safety units. Normally it's close to home, but on one occasion I was taken somewhere over 1.5 hours away....but that's not usual. I've always been allowed to go home after my assessments, but they do make sure that you have support and follow up in the community after you leave. They will also arrange transport to get home. Sometimes people are not allowed to leave after their assessment, because the risk of harm is very high, and then people will be found a longer term bed in a mental health hospital....but even then they might only need to stay for a short time. I think they normally try to find out who the next of kin is, because it's a legal requirement to show that they have tried.

Overall the person will be treated with care and will be assessed to see if they need more intensive mental health treatment than they currently receive.

I hope the person who you are in contact with is okay, treated well and receives any extra help they might need x

Mintyt · 26/12/2021 07:48

@Ilovemycatsomuch, thank you for sharing and I hope you are settled and supported and happy,

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