Petition · past parliament

To ensure welfare for ones mental health in custody cells is provided.

Rejected 13 signatures

What the petition asks

I would like the government to consider better care for custody inmates in police stations. For example: the bedding is unsuitable standard, the conditions are unhygenic - especially in covid times. As those suffering from mental health are under a lack of care, more importantly for those under 18.
I think it offers a better chance to enable inmates to become better cooperative towards police officers and it is just a basic matter of human rights. Moreover, many people who suffer mental health, which has dramatically increased in the lockdowns, have been neglected in the hands of the police. They are provided with physical necessities, but nothing has been done to ensure their mental wellbeing is cared for. To be in a cell with four white blank walls, with an uncomfortable bed frame, little contact with anyone and in unhygenic conditions for up to 24 hours is highly damaging to ones mental health. Especially young people who have been arrested for minor crimes, many due to their mental health and issues in their safeguarding, are at risk to behaving worse than when they entered.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action.

We understand that you are concerned about the conditions of custody cells for people with mental health issues, but we're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.

You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you would like the Government or Parliament to do. The condition of custody cells is a matter for individual police forces, but we could accept a petition calling for the Government to create new requirements for the facilities provided in custody cells, or for support to be provided for people with mental health issues who are held in custody.

Timeline

1 May 2021 Petition opened for signatures
6 May 2021 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 13
Status Rejected
Rejected 6 May 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.