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Mental Health Bill [HL]

I support most strongly everything that the noble Earl, Lord Howe, has said and, with the permission of the noble Lord, Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, who is not in his place, but was here earlier, I express his strong support, too. He had hoped to speak to the amendment, had we moved a little faster in the debate. Like Nick Hardwick, who was quoted by the noble Earl, the noble Lord, Lord Stevens, feels that whatever else a police cell is, it is not a place of safety for people with mental illness. Over many years, he and I have discussed the enormous problems that this situation has caused, with fragile, vulnerable and very sick people held in police cells for up to three days. The system for moving them to another place of safety is not in place. Therefore, I hope that the Minister will accept the amendment and acknowledge that we must do something.