Mentally-ill man in 64-hour custody 'failure' in Staffordshire

An NHS trust has been accused of abandoning a mentally-ill man who was kept in custody for nearly 64 hours.

Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis issued a timeline of "unavoidable" events during which the man's health deteriorated.

The man was detained under the Mental Health Act in March and kept in custody while suitable care was sought.

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust said it currently did not have a psychiatric intensive care unit.

Mr Ellis has asked for an independent audit panel to investigate the incident, which saw 22 officers assisting the 47-year-old man.

Although the man, who travelled to Stoke-on-Trent after leaving a London hospital, did not commit a crime during incidents at a pub, cafe and shopping centre, he was taken into custody amid concerns he may harm himself or others.

Efforts were made to find a care facility for him in Manchester, London and Bradford before he was eventually taken to unit in Stoke.

During his time in police care, the man was taken to a specialist unit in Bradford but was returned to custody in Stoke an hour later after problems with paperwork.

Mr Ellis said: "It is clear from the evidence presented to me so far that this was primarily a failure by anyone responsible for mental health services to 'grip' a complex situation involving an individual who needed healthcare, not incarceration in a police cell.

"This wasn't, on the face of it, even about money.

"This was about a failure of mental health services management to take responsibility and be accountable for their services across Staffordshire, regionally and wider."

The NHS trust said it had worked "very closely" with Staffordshire Police to provide support for the client who had "very specific needs".

The trust added it was working with its commissioners to develop "a business case for such care" in the future.