Plans to allow NHS staff to restrain and detain people during mental health crises, rather than police officers, have been condemned as dangerous by leading UK medical bodies.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May, along with ex-health ministers Syed Kamall and Frederick Curzon, has proposed amendments to the Mental Health Bill currently before Parliament. These changes would empower certain NHS staff—including psychiatrists, nurses, and doctors—to act as “authorised persons” under the Mental Health Act, giving them legal authority to detain individuals experiencing severe mental health episodes.
However, a coalition of eight national health, emergency, and social care organisations has issued a strong warning, saying the proposals could endanger both staff and patients. The group includes the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Nursing, and the British Medical Association.
“Removing police involvement entirely has hugely dangerous implications,” the coalition said in a joint statement. “Professionals could be forced to enter homes without police support or intelligence, putting their safety at serious risk.”
Currently, only police officers have the legal authority to detain someone under the Mental Health Act, such as during a psychotic episode. The proposed change would shift that responsibility to NHS staff in some cases.
Dr. Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the idea is “inappropriate” and reflects a misunderstanding of healthcare workers’ roles. “Detaining or restraining someone is effectively an arrest. This requires training, authority, and equipment that health professionals simply do not have,” she said.
The proposal has revived concerns similar to those raised in 2023, when the Metropolitan Police announced it would no longer respond to mental health-related 999 calls unless there was a life-threatening emergency. That decision sparked fears that vulnerable individuals would be left without timely help.
Supporters of the amendment, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), argue it would improve care for people in crisis. “We support allowing trained health professionals to manage some incidents,” said an NPCC spokesperson. “This helps ensure individuals are treated with dignity and not criminalised.”
However, the Department of Health and Social Care has also voiced concern. A spokesperson said, “This would represent a major shift in roles and responsibilities for health staff and place extra strain on an already stretched NHS. It could damage relationships between patients and clinicians.”
Other groups opposing the change include the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, the College of Paramedics, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the British Association of Social Workers, and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services.
Labour MP and former shadow minister for mental health Rosena Allin-Khan, who also works as an A&E doctor, said the change could erode trust between patients and healthcare workers. “It risks turning practitioners into enforcers,” she said. “This isn’t what mental healthcare should be about.”
The debate continues as Parliament considers the proposed amendments. For now, both medical and political voices are calling for caution—urging that mental health support must not come at the cost of safety or compassion.
Related Topics:
