Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Politics
Benjamin Kentish

MPs approve 'Seni's law' to restrict use of force against mental health patients

Olaseni Lewis, 23, died after being restrained by 11 police officers for more than 30 minutes while he had an acute mental health episode ( Handout )

MPs have voted in favour of a new law to restrict the use of force against patients in mental health units, despite fears the bill might be blocked by Tory backbenchers.

The changes would force NHS trusts to increase transparency about the restraint of patients, including making police officers wear body cameras when dealing with vulnerable people

The Commons burst into applause when the private member's bill, introduced by Labour's Steve Reed, passed its third reading.

The reforms are known as "Seni's law" in memory of Olaseni Lewis, who died in September 2010 after being restrained by 11 police officers at Bethlem Royal Hospital in south-east London. 

Lewis, who was 23, fell into a coma following the incident and died days later. An inquest later found the officers had used "excessive force" but no criminal charges were brought.

Seni's parents, Aji and Conrad, were in the Commons to see the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill passed unopposed by MPs. 

Also watching from the public gallery was Marcia Rigg, whose son, Sean, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and died while in police custody in Brixton, south London, in 2008.

The government has already backed the changes but the bill was blocked last month when Conservative MP Philip Davies spoke for more than two hours in a bid to filibuster it.

No such opposition was voiced during the bill's third and final reading, though, and it will now pass to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before it becomes law.

Mr Reed said restraint was used 97,000 times in mental health units last year, injuring 3,652 patients.

Addressing MPs, he said: "Although this bill is called Seni's law in honour of Seni, it's affected many, many people beyond Seni who have lost their lives or been injured simply because they were unwell.

"The purpose of this nill is to make sure this can't happen again."

He said the 70th anniversary of the NHS this week provided a good opportunity to make changes to help people with mental illness. 

He said: "What better way to celebrate that occasion than by giving the NHS a birthday present by making it even better - by creating for people with mental ill health in this country some of the best protections anywhere in the world."

Mr Reed also paid tribute to campaigners, including Seni's father, Conrad, who he quoted as having said: "I bear a burden I'll have to carry for the rest of my life."It's a burden I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy and I don't want any other parent to have to carry that burden."

Mr Reed said: "This is our chance to make mental health services safe and equal for everyone."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.