Police and mental health

Explains what happens if you're arrested and what your rights are if you're taken to a police station.

This information applies to England and Wales.
This information applies to adults. It doesn't apply to children unless specifically stated.
In 2025 the government passed new laws making changes to the Mental Health Act. The changes will come in stages. For now, your rights under the Mental Health Act have not changed. We'll update our information when changes happen.

Overview

Quick facts

Sometimes people with mental health problems may come into contact with the police. The 3 most common ways are:
- As a victim of crime
- If you're unwell or vulnerable
- If you're accused of committing a crime
If you're arrested for committing a crime, it's important that you tell the police (and other professionals) that you have a mental health problem. This will help you to get the right care and support.
You have certain rights if you're taken to a police station. These include the right to free legal advice and the right to medical help.
If you're unhappy with the way the police treated you, you can complain to your local police station through the Police.uk website. In some cases you can complain through the Independent Office for Police Conduct. You should report your concerns within 12 months of the incident.

These pages contain general legal information, not legal advice. We recommend you get advice from a specialist legal adviser or solicitor who will help you with your individual situation and needs. See our useful contacts page for organisations which may be able to help.

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This information was published in February 2025. We will revise it in 2028.

References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.

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