A place of safety? Self-harming behaviour in police custody

Cummins, ID ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7814-3835 2008, 'A place of safety? Self-harming behaviour in police custody' , The Journal of Adult Protection, 10 (1) , pp. 36-47.

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Abstract

The custody environment is not designed nor can it hope to meet the needs of individuals who are experiencing acute mental distress. The article reports the findings of analysis of the recorded incidents of self-harm that occurred in the custody of one English police force during an eight-month period in 2006. There were 168 such incidents in this period. The ratio of male/female detained persons, who harmed themselves was 3:1. The most common method used was a ligature either from the detained person’s own clothes or the paper suits that are used in custody. Alcohol or substance misuse was identified as a clear risk factor. The police response is analysed and recommendations made for improved access to health care for those in custody.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Subjects / Themes > R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine > RA0790 Mental health. Mental illness prevention Subjects / Themes > K Law > KD Law of the United Kingdom and Ireland Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare Health and Wellbeing Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > School of Health and Society > Centre for Applied Research in Health, Welfare and Policy
Journal or Publication Title:	The Journal of Adult Protection
Publisher:	Pavilion Publishing
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	14668203
Related URLs:	Publication Publisher
Depositing User:	Institutional Repository
Date Deposited:	29 Jun 2009 13:44
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2022 15:35
URI:	http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/2154

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