Police and mental health

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

What are my rights at the police station?

If you're arrested, once you're taken to the police station you have the right to:

• Free legal advice
• Be given your rights in writing and in your first language
• A free interpreter or signer
• Tell someone where you are
• Medical help
• See the rules that the police must follow
• Have an appropriate adult with you

Free legal advice

• You have a right to legal advice when you're arrested and before you're questioned.
• You can either ask to see the duty solicitor or contact a specific legal adviser.
• You don't have to pay for the advice at the police station.
• The solicitor will tell you whether you can get legal aid for more advice.
• Sometimes, you may be given legal advice over the telephone instead of in person.
• Even if at first you say you don't want legal advice, you can change your mind later and tell the police.
• This advice will be independent and given in private.

Rights in writing and in your first language

• You have rights that the police must follow. These include having regular meals and how long you can stay in the police station. You can read these rights on the Gov.uk website.
• These rights must be given to you in writing and in your language.

A free interpreter or signer

If you're D/deaf, have hearing or speech difficulties or English isn't your first language you're entitled to a free interpreter or signer. The interpreter or signer should be there when the police interview you.

Tell someone where you are

• You can ask the police to contact someone you know and tell them you're at the police station. This could be a friend or family member. You won't have to pay for this.
• If you don't want anyone told about your arrest, the police won't normally go against your wishes. The exception is if you're aged under 18. If you're unwell it's possible the police may contact someone who can give them more information. This could be about your medical history or ongoing medication. This is to help make sure your medical needs are properly met.
• If you aren't from the UK you can tell your embassy or consulate where you are. You should tell the police that you want them to be contacted.

Medical help

• You should tell the police if you feel ill, need medicine or have an injury. They will arrange for a healthcare professional to see you free of charge.
• You may be allowed to take your own medicine but the police will have to check first.
• If you tell the healthcare professional that you have a mental health problem, they will talk to the police. They can advise the police as to whether you can stay in the police station and be questioned. The police custody officer will make the decision.
• It's important that you tell the healthcare professional how you feel and whether you feel well enough to be questioned.

See the rules that the police must follow

• The police have to follow rules which are written in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984). There is guidance about the law in the PACE codes of practice.
• These rules include when the police can stop and search and how they must record interviews.
• One of the codes (PACE Code C) relates to how the police must treat you when you're in the police station. You can read more about Pace Code C on the Gov.uk website.
• You can ask to see these codes while you're at the police station. The police must allow you to see them.

Have an appropriate adult with you

• If you're 'mentally vulnerable', the police should find an appropriate adult for you.
• An appropriate adult will protect your welfare and make sure that you understand the information.
• They can ask for a legal adviser for you and will help you communicate with them and the police.
• An appropriate adult is different to a legal adviser. A legal adviser will give you advice about the law and the crime that you've been accused of committing.
• An appropriate adult could be a family member, carer or friend. They must agree to being an appropriate adult. And they can't be suspected of being involved in the offence or a victim of it.
• An appropriate adult could also be a social worker, healthcare professional, charity worker or a specialist. They could be paid or voluntary.
• Appropriate adults aren't bound by legal privilege. This means anything you say to them in private is not confidential. They can be questioned as a witness by the police, or in court, about what was discussed.

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.