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Care Not Custody

In June 2008, the WI passed a resolution calling for an end to the inappropriate detention of people with mental health problems.

More than two-thirds of all prison inmates have two or more mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Many have a history of attempted suicide and self-harm, while significant numbers have severe and ongoing problems such as schizophrenia or personality disorders.

Too many people are getting inadequate mental healthcare in prisons when they could have been diverted to hospitals or community based alternatives. Women and young people are particularly hard hit by prison being the default option, with the after effects of inappropriate detention often leading to pressure on relatives and even family breakdown.

There is a much greater need for higher levels of cooperation between the health sector and the criminal justice sector. People with mental health disorders should be cared for in the most appropriate location and not the most convenient one. We want people with mental health problems to get the right care for their condition via more diversion schemes and better community mental health services offering safe alternatives to imprisonment.

The campaign so far?
What is the WI calling for?

Want to know what you can do?

Effective diversion schemes around the country. We would like to see a national network of diversion schemes at police stations and courts.

Access to early assessment and intervention. This could take the form of mental health clinical advisers in courts and police stations to ensure problems are spotted and assessed quickly.

Community mental health services available offering safe alternatives to imprisonment. Diversion will only work if there are adequate services around the country to which people can be diverted, wherever possible out of custody.

Full implementation of Baroness Corston's proposals for women in the criminal justice system. including investment in local community-based provision based on women's centre models such as the Asha Centre and the Calderdale Women's Centre, which carry out therapeutic work and are close to families and networked into local services.

Help with resettlement and contact with families. Support should begin as soon as people are diverted to prepare for life outside. Alongside mental health treatment, they need to help build up work skills and get jobs, to have a home to go to and to maintain contact with family where they are supportive.

What has the WI been doing nationally and locally?
David Hanson MP, Minister for Prisons
Parliamentary reception
In March 2009, Fay Mansell hosted a reception in the House of Commons bringing together politicians from all parties and charities from the health and prison sectors.
Attendees heard from David Hanson MP from the Ministry of Justice, Chief Inspector of Prisons Dame Anne Owers and Janice Aldred, the WI member who proposed the original resolution last year.

Prison visits
Members have also been seeing how services work first hand by visiting prisons and women's centres. So far visits have taken in Cardiff Prison and Women's Centre and Birmingham prison and Anawim women's centre.

Meeting ministers
In November 2008, NFWI Chair Fay Mansell met with Maria Eagle, Ministerial Champion for Women in the Criminal Justice System, and Lord Bradley, whose report on diversion comes out in April 2009.

Raising awareness locally
In late 2008, members around the country sent letters to their MPs raising awareness of the issue and calling for more local diversion schemes.
What you can do
1. Find out what's happening in your area, by asking your Primary Care Trusts if they provide diversion schemes.

2. Hold public meetings on the issue, ideally with speakers who can share their own experiences. The Public Affairs department can put you in touch with willing speakers.

3. Write to your MP, asking them to press the government for better diversion and funding for women's centres. Personalise your contact with your experiences or findings about local services.

4. Write to your local newspaper and tell them what you are doing. If your Primary Care Trust is not commissioning court diversion schemes, make sure the local press knows.

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