advice needed

carolan78

When we had something similar with my brother in law (he is schizophrenic) the police detained him and took him to the hospital where the mental health team and Dr's sectioned him for his safety (he was never a danger to anyone but himself). So whoever you have spoken to at the police station has given you false information, I do remember we had to tell the police on the scene they had to deal with him under section something or other (38 rings a bell but it was a few years ago now).

ziptia

ye it is the same son I posted about in December. the police came to the house today as my 16 year old son wanted to report his brother. the police said it is a family domestic and they don't tend to get involved my son told them he wanted to press charges against his brother and they said the cps might not do anything about it when I told them about his mental health issuses they said that's is for mental health to sort out not them . I told them he is danger at the moment but they said they cant arrest him. I do not know where he is otherwise I would take him down to the local mental health unit myself and insist they see him. he has threatened the lives of my 2 children and I am powerless to do anything about it. I do not know where to turn.

meritaten

what the police said is wrong - if your son is prepared to lay charges because he has been assaulted then the fact it is his brother shouldn't matter! !!!!!!! what is WRONG with them?
I would take your 16 son down the police station and insist on pressing charges! and make a complaint about the plod who initially dealt with it! they should then make an effort to find him and arrest him - if this is what you want.
DOES he have a mental health team? or, are they as much use as a chocolate teapot?
because hun - sometimes it takes an arrest and a period of being clean plus the courts involvement to actually GET some help.
your DD was attacked too - perhaps she would want to press charges if it would 'help' her brother?

carolan78

The police won't do anything re charging him because he has mental health issues. What they can and should do is detain him to be assessed for section by the mental health team.

If he isn't there then there isn't a lot for them to do. If he returns dial 999 explain he is mentally ill and you need the police and ambulance to attend to take him to hospital. This is the advice we were given in case brother in law went into a psychosis again.

itsanne

Having had to phone the police and Mental Health team about my son on a number of occasions, I sympathise with your situation. It can be a Kafkaesque experience.

So some advice born from experience:

At the time your son is aggressive / threatening dial 999. That is even before contacting the Mental Health team. Do not try to contain the situation by not calling the police. By all means try to calm your son down, but as you will realise this may not be possible. Calling the police does not mean you have to have your son charged.

Depending on the circumstances in your area, your son may be taken to a police station or hospital. If he is taken to a police station he should be seen by a doctor.

As the situation has now moved on, assuming your son is under the care of Mental Health Services, you need to contact them as a matter of urgency. Tell them that you think he is a threat to others. Put your concerns in writing, copied to his GP. Phone as well if you are posting rather than hand delivering the letter.

The advice the police are giving you is simply wrong. There is no reason legally why your son cannot be charged for assaulting his brother. That does not necessarily mean it is the best thing to do.

SuzieSue

carolan78 wrote: »

If he isn't there then there isn't a lot for them to do. If he returns dial 999 explain he is mentally ill and you need the police and ambulance to attend to take him to hospital. This is the advice we were given in case brother in law went into a psychosis again.

Yes, I think the ambulance might be your best course of action as I remember on the program last night that in one case the ambulance called the police and they took him to the police station. I think you will need to say that he is trying to kill himself. It's a shame that you have to call the ambulance and normally I wouldn't suggest it as it might divert them from someone having a heart attack, but your children are in extreme danger and something needs to be done. It is the mental health team's responsibility, but if they are anything like the team that was portrayed on Panorama last night, they won't do anything until the police have him in custody.

carolan78

I don't know about Hampshire but in Essex they don't take them to the police station (they never have with brother in law) he has always been took to hospital which is why the ambulance is needed. If we are really lucky someone from the mental health team will turn up too. Ultimately though the police are just there to restrain him and help get him in the ambulance if needed.

ValHaller

The police are known to be shockingly poor in their handling of people with mental health issues. It seems that they will either provoke a tense situation into a much worse situation to be sure of grounds for a good fight and an arrest - or as in the present case they will just duck out.

I would suggest calling mental health teams first and let them call the police

itsanne

In our experience the police have almost always actually been very good.

We've had experience of Mental Health taking too long to react (it can depend on whether any order is currently in place), and depending on the situation they can rely on the police anyway.

In a crisis, where someone is violent, the police will be needed.

nom_de_plume

Be very wary of the police. Someone close to me who has a history of mental health problems was arrested. The arresting officer had their history clearly explained and was told they must see a doctor and should be referred to the local mental health team. Did they? Did they hell!
They did not see a doctor. They were denied their meds. They went direct to court and were bound over to keep the peace and put back on the street.
Lesson learned - If the police do get involved, don't rely on them to do the right thing. Go down the station after the arrest and insist on speaking to the duty inspector. Note names, etc. and make it very clear you are making a record of your conversation.
Good luck OP. Sorry to hear of your problems.