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Police and mental health

Explains when you may have contact with the police, what happens if you are arrested and what your rights are if you are taken to the police station.

Useful contacts 

Mind's services

  • Legal Line – provides legal information and general advice by phone or email. 
  • Local Minds – provide face-to-face services, such as talking therapies, peer support and advocacy, across England and Wales.

Find an advocate

To find advocacy services and groups in your area, you could call Mind's Legal Line or contact your local Mind.

If you're in hospital, you can also contact:

In some circumstances, you may be legally entitled to get the support of an advocate. See our page on your legal rights to advocacy for more information.

Other organisations

Civil Legal Advice (CLA)

gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Can tell you if you're eligible for legal aid, and give you free and confidential legal advice if so.

Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)

policeconduct.gov.uk
Oversees police complaints in England and Wales.

Law Society

lawsociety.org.uk
Professional association for solicitors in England and Wales. Includes a searchable directory of solicitors.

Legal aid checker

gov.uk/check-legal-aid
Tells you whether you are entitled to free legal advice, and where you can find legal advisors that specialise in criminal law (England and Wales).

Revolving Doors Agency

020 7407 0747
revolving-doors.org.uk
Supports people with mental health problems who have had contact with the criminal justice system.

This information was published in November 2017. We will revise it in 2019.

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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