Policing.uk
Place of safety
- Mental health
A location to which a person may be removed and detained under sections 135 or 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 when they are in need of immediate care or control. Designated places of safety include hospital emergency departments, mental health facilities, and in limited circumstances police custody. The person may be detained for up to 24 hours (with a possible 12-hour extension) for the purpose of assessment by an approved mental health professional and a registered medical practitioner.
In practice
Since the Policing and Crime Act 2017, police custody may only be used as a place of safety for adults in exceptional circumstances where the person is too violent to be safely managed elsewhere and no other suitable place is available. It cannot be used as a place of safety for under-18s. Officers taking a person to a place of safety should handover to healthcare professionals as soon as practicable.
Related terms
Last updated 14 October 2026