Introduction
An experienced prison governor was quoted a few years ago as
saying that
‘the failure to tackle widespread mental illness among prisoners is
storing up huge social and public health problems for the future.’1
In a lecture in which he talked about court diversion, dual
diagnosis and the huge unmet need of lower level mental health
problems, he stated:
‘Add to this the additional unmet need amongst black and minority
ethnic prisoners, the complexities of foreign national prisoners,
older prisoners and the huge number with learning disabilities, we
have not only a recipe for despair but also for an increased likelihood
of re-offending and the creation of more victims if the problems
are not addressed.’