Expert meeting on the conclusions relating to UK psychiatric institutions by the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture (CPT)

Dr Judy Laing participated in an expert meeting on the conclusions relating to UK psychiatric institutions by the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture (CPT) at the University of Essex in July 2017, as part of the Human Rights Centre's Detention, Rights and Social Justice Programme. The CPT report was published in April 2017 and highlighted several human rights concerns about the treatment of patients detained in psychiatric hospitals in England relating to the safeguards concerning forced treatment, the use of force on patients and the use of long-term segregation and night-time confinement in high secure hospitals. The workshop explored issues relating to consent to treatment and the need for additional safeguards; expanding the remit of the Mental Health Tribunal; the use of force, particularly in forensic psychiatric hospitals; and long -term segregation and night-time confinement in high secure hospitals. The meeting will lead to an outcome paper which sets out recommendations for implementation. More information can be found on the Council of Europe's website