NEW figures show that police had to section one person every day in 2018.

Section 136 of the Mental Health Act allows the police to act if they believe that a person is suffering from mental illness and is in need of immediate help to ensure their safety or the safety of others.

A report on the number of people detained in Cornwall went before Cornwall Council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee this week.

Data in the report released by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust shows that 365 individuals were sectioned in 2018.

Of those who had to be detained by the police under the mental health act 22 were under the age of 17.

The highest proportion were aged between 18 and 29 – with 120 in that age range being sectioned.

Details have also been provided for when the incidents took place and show that June had the highest  number with 38. The lowest was in March with 18.

When police exercise their powers under the Mental Health Act they must transfer the person to a safe place which can be a hospital, police station or other designated place which could include the person’s home. A police station should only be used in exceptional circumstances.

Last year in Cornwall three people were taken to accident and emergency while all the others were taken to a dedicated Section 136 suite at Longreach House in Redruth.

The committee heard that a police cell has not been used as a place of safety for someone detained under the mental health act in Cornwall for more than two years.

Colin Quick, from the NHS Foundation Trust, said that people taken to Longreach House are assessed by qualified staff who decide the best course of action for them. He said that Cornwall was seen as a leader of good practice for its work with people who are sectioned.

Councillors were concerned that Longreach House was the only facility in Cornwall where police could take people who are sectioned.

Councillor Bert Biscoe said he was concerned that the police were having to deal with an increase in mental health issues and whether they had the capacity to take on the extra work.

He also suggested that if there was a need for another facility then it could be provided at the new police headquarters in Bodmin.

Councillor Jacquie Gammon raised concerns about the terms used in the report and said it was wrong to call people with mental health issues “detainees”.

“They are not criminals,” she said.

Mr Quick explained that as the terminology was that people are “detained” under the Mental Health Act that was why the word was used. However he said there was some work being carried out more widely to review language used.