Psychiatric Bulletin (2009) 33: 416-419. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.108.023713
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Prosecution of physical assaults by psychiatric in-patients in Northern Ireland

Ciara Young, Specialist Registrar in General Adult and Old Age Psychiatry

Downshire Hospital, Ardglass Rd, Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 6HY, email: ciaramy{at}hotmail.com

John Brady, Consultant Psychiatrist

Gransha Hospital, Londonderry

Nauman Iqbal, Consultant Psychiatrist in Home Treatment

St. Lukes Hospital, Armagh

Fred Brown, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist

Shannon Medium Secure Unit, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

Assaults in healthcare settings have resulted in a range of national strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of violence. This study aimed to quantify the use of prosecution of assailants as a response, and to examine what other responses were used. The responses to violent incidents in three Northern Ireland psychiatric in-patient units in the year 2003 were ascertained retrospectively.

RESULTS

Of 245 incidents meeting the legal definition of assault, police were contacted in 10, and 1 resulted in a prosecution. Seven in-patients accounted for 30.4% of assaults. Of the assaults, 46.5% were dealt with by staff using de-escalation alone.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

These results demonstrate the infrequent reporting of such assaults to the police. A more structured approach should be taken to this important decision. Factors relating to the prosecution of assaults in psychiatric in-patient units are discussed.