Ronald Bainborough
18 Feb 2025 · Coroner Sarah Bourke · Inner North London
The coroner's concerns
1. delay in issuing and executing s135(1) warrants
“During the Inquest, evidence was heard from 2 consultant psychiatrists and an Approved Mental Health Act Professional (AMHP) regarding the timescales for applying for and executing s135(1) warrants. All of them had concerns about the time taken for a warrant to be issued and executed”
2. lack of fast track procedure
“There is no official fast track procedure. Consequently, there is a risk of harm to the individual and others during the time taken for a warrant to be granted and executed”
3. risk of self-harm or harm to others before warrant execution
“As individuals have been identified as requiring assessment under the Mental Health Act, the risk of potential harm is recognised. In the absence of treatment, there is an ongoing risk that individuals will harm themselves or others before the warrant can be executed. This includes a risk of fatal harm”
Responses
2025-0099-Response-from-HMCTS.pdf ↗· Metropolitan Police
Stated action · June
“I offer our apologies for the delay in submitting this response to your report dated 18 February 2025. Following some unfortunate internal misdirection the report was only received in the correct part of the MOJ in June and we are grateful to have been allowed time to investigate before providing our response.”
2025-0099-Response-from-MPS.pdf ↗· Metropolitan Police
Stated action · 17th November 2022
“The MPS will now request a weekly Community Consultation Meeting between AMHPs, MH policing teams, Neighbourhood policing teams, Crisis Teams, and Home Treatment Teams (HTT) to discuss those people who may be reaching the threshold for an assessment/S135 warrant application.”