Source · Select Committees · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted
It is crucial that prisoners experiencing serious mental health crises are promptly moved to a...
Conclusion
It is crucial that prisoners experiencing serious mental health crises are promptly moved to a hospital environment where they can receive the treatment they need. Delays in such moves risk exposing individuals to inhuman or degrading treatment in breach of Article 3 ECHR. The Bill’s introduction of a statutory 28 day time frame for hospital transfers represents, therefore, a welcome development. (Conclusion, Paragraph 144)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that monitoring transfer processes is crucial and has established a Mental Health and Justice Strategic Advisory Group to scrutinise data and identify solutions. They also commit to annual reporting on Bill implementation, including transfer timeliness.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We agree that monitoring and oversight of the transfer process will be crucial to the successful implementation of the statutory time-limit. A Mental Health and Justice Strategic Advisory Group has recently been established which will bring together key partners across health and justice agencies to scrutinise data and intelligence on transfer timeliness and identify and deliver solutions to address the common causes of delays. The group will provide quarterly progress updates to Ministers in both the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health and Social Care on progress. We have committed to report annually on the implementation of the Bill post Royal Assent, until such a time that the Bill is fully implemented which will include providing updates on progress and data relating to transfer timeliness, when it is ready for publication.