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Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages

The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill is a private member’s bill introduced in the House of Commons by Steve Reed (Labour MP for Croydon North) and sponsored in the House of Lords by Baroness Massey of Darwen (Labour). The Bill has Government support and completed its third reading in the House of Commons on 6 July 2018. The Bill received its first reading in the House of Lords on 9 July 2018, and is due to be considered at second reading on 7 September 2018. The Bill was introduced by Steve Reed following the death of his constituent Olaseni Lewis on 4 September 2010, who died after being restrained by police officers in a mental health unit. The Bill would make provision for increased oversight and management of the use of force in mental health units in England and Wales, and would require police officers to wear body cameras when attending mental health units. 

This briefing summarises the Bill’s provisions, the policy background, and the Bill’s House of Commons stages.