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Clegg: Locking up mentally ill in police cells 'unacceptable'

It is "unacceptable" that children suffering a mental health crisis are being locked up in police cells because of a lack of mental health services, the Deputy Prime Minister has said.

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Clegg: 'Mental health is as important as physical health'

The agreement between police, mental health trusts and paramedics among others, states that police custody suites should not be used because mental health services are not available.

It's unacceptable that there are incidents where young people and even children can end up in a police cell because the right mental health service isn't available to them.

That's why we're taking action across the country and across organisations to make sure those with mental health problems are receiving the emergency care they need. We want to build a fairer society - one where mental health is as important as physical health - and the Crisis Care Concordat is an important step towards addressing this disparity.

– Nick Clegg

The Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) organisation said 36% of mentally ill people found in a public place who are detained by police end up in cells. The pledge, called the Crisis Care Concordat, challenges services to ensure they are always available for patients who need them urgently.

Health officials hope that the agreement will half the number of people inappropriately detained in police cells by next year. In 2011/12, 8,667 people were detained in England, the Department of Health said.

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Clegg: Locking up mentally ill in police cells 'unacceptable'

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