Research indicates that episodes of mental distress and manifestations of mental health conditions  are significantly increased when individuals are detained and interviewed whilst  in contact with the Criminal Justice System. This is particularly evident amongst adults and young people who have mental health and/or learning difficulties.

Individual from Asian communities currently constitute 20% of patients  in medium secure psychiatric institutions,  despite being less than 5% of the national population. They also experience a disproportionately high rate of sectioning, over-medicating and forcible restraint .

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and Accompanying Codes of Practice, requires that  an independent person, as an  Appropriate Adult, is in attendance at a police station to help safeguard the interest/rights of vulnerable suspects, witnesses and/ or victims of crime.
An Appropriate Adult is defined as a relative, guardian, mental health professional and / or responsible adults over the age of eighteen.

Objectives: 

Court Divert is a vehicle through which we can play  an active role within our community, working within the arena of criminal justice and mental health/ learning difficulties.

Our initial strategy is to  build voluteering provision for vulnerable adults targeted towards police stations within the locality of our members.

Third Wave,
BCR House,
3 Bredbury Business Park,
Stockport,
SK6 2SN.