New health service supports vulnerable people through the criminal justice system in Lincolnshire

The Lincolnshire Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion service is said to be the first of its kind in the county, but Lincolnshire is the final police force area to get the service as part of a phased roll out across England and Wales due to the complex nature of the system.

A national framework of liaison and diversion services was created in response to The Bradley Report – Lord Bradley’s 2009 review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system.

The new service provides support for people who are identified as having potential vulnerabilities, when they first encounter the criminal justice system, suspected of having committed a crime.

Police are able to refer people they identify as being potentially vulnerable to the service. Those vulnerabilities could include (but are not limited to) mental health problems, learning disabilities, drug and alcohol problems, housing and more.

Individuals referred to the service are seen by the team – made up of six LPFT clinicians and nine LAT practitioners. Information is then shared with police and courts to determine the best course of action for the individual. The service could establish extra support if the person remains within the criminal justice system, or if appropriate the individual could be diverted into health, social care or other support services.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, the new service is currently operating in police custody and provides information electronically to the courts and other agencies.

As demonstrated by liaison and diversion services already operating in other counties, this helps generate a more consistent outcome for vulnerable individuals and ensures they get the support required to properly engage with relevant services, says leaders of the new service.

Brendan Hayes, Chief Executive of LPFT said: “There is a demand for this service in our county, as those in the criminal justice system tend to have high health and social care needs; the prevalence rates for personality disorders, psychosis, attention disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-harm are notably high too.”

“We have watched the development, roll out and successes of other liaison and diversion services with great interest, and we are now pleased to be in a position to offer an effective service to support people as they navigate the criminal justice system in Lincolnshire.”

Alison Goddard, Chief Executive of LAT, said: “Our intention is that by helping people to engage with services, the issues that led to their entry into the criminal justice system will be resolved or improved to prevent them from re-entering it in the future. This will enable them to reintegrate into their communities as a positive and productive citizen and reduce future victims of crime.”

Lincolnshire’s Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion service, commissioned by NHS England/Improvement, is operating seven days a week between the hours of 9am and 9pm, 365 days a year.

To find out more visit: www.lpft.nhs.uk/liaison-and-diversion

About Lincolnshire’s Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service:

• The contract awarded to Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Lincolnshire Action Trust is four years long initially, extendable by up to two years

• Generally, the criminal justice liaison and diversion service will focus on: mental ill health; learning disability; drugs and alcohol use; under 18s; speech and language needs; accommodation; finances; social care and safeguarding needs.

• As well as the 15-strong group of practitioners and clinicians, some of Lincolnshire Action Trust’s volunteer mentors support the service.

• Referrals can be accepted from: staff in police and court custody suites; police; custody officers; solicitors; National Probation Service; the healthcare service in police custody suites.

• For more information, visit: www.lpft.nhs.uk/liaison-and-diversion