We welcome the draft Mental Health Bill 2022 which legislates for the removal of using prisons as a place of safety for those with mental health difficulties. However, we call on the Government to go further, removing the provision in the Bail Act 1976 for remanding people into custody for their own protection in all situations, and providing adequate provision in the community for those people who would have been remanded to custody solely for their own protection.

We welcome the draft Mental Health Bill 2022 which legislates for the removal of using prisons as a place of safety for those with mental health difficulties. However, we call on the Government to go further, removing the provision in the Bail Act 1976 for remanding people into custody for their own protection in all situations, and providing adequate provision in the community for those people who would have been remanded to custody solely for their own protection. Type: recommendation | Number: 10 | Paragraph: 60 | Response status: accepted Government response: We accept this recommendation. We are currently delivering 20,000 additional, modern prison places, which is the largest prison build programme in a century. This programme ensures the right conditions are in place to rehabilitate prisoners, helping to cut crime and protect the public. These places