Speak up against the government? Welcome to the mental asylum

[Spiderman]

From here http://www.publications.parliament.u...70625w0068.htm

Fixated Threat Assessment Centre

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre use to decide whom to investigate; [143132]

(2) how many people have been (a) detained, (b) sectioned and (c) investigated by the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre; [143141]

(3) what the (a) names and (b) job descriptions are of the employees of the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre; [143142]

(4) who authorised the establishment of the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre. [143033]

Mr. McNulty [holding answer s 15 June 2007]: The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) was established in order to better protect the public and vulnerable individuals in response to evidence that a significant proportion of people who engage in bizarre communications or contact with prominent people in public life are severely and acutely mentally ill and urgently need professional help. A small but significant number of such individuals can pose a risk to the public, the prominent person, and themselves, particularly in environments where there are armed police officers. The Home Office, the Department of Health and the Metropolitan Police Service agreed to establish a joint police/mental health unit, on a pilot basis, to assess and manage the risk posed by such individuals. Where appropriate, FTAC will introduce (or reintroduce) the individuals into existing community mental health care through established pathways. If offences are disclosed, and the circumstances warrant such intervention, consideration will also be given to a criminal investigation.

Since its creation in October 2006, FTAC has dealt with 168 cases. FTAC does not detain people in psychiatric hospitals. When it encounters an individual in need of mental health care it alerts their general practitioners and psychiatrists, who then provide appropriate help under existing legislation. FTAC may make use of police powers under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 to take a person who appears to be suffering from mental disorder, and in immediate need of care or control, to a place of safety. When people are removed to hospital under section 136, they are examined by a registered medical practitioner and interviewed by an approved social worker, not associated with FTAC, in order to make any necessary arrangements for their treatment or care. To date, FTAC personnel have used this power on nine occasions.

The bit ive highlighted in bold really worries me. Its this kind unsubstantiated generalisation that ministers, especially the likes of Mcnulty, get away with saying without being challenged.

If you take out the words "bizzare communications or" the sentance reads like this... in response to evidence that a significant proportion of people who engage in contact with prominent people in public life are severely and acutely mentally ill and urgently need professional help.
So hes saying that a significant proportion of peeps who ever wrote to anyone in "public life" - does that include celebs i wonder, are severely and acutely mentally ill.
How the hell can he stand up in parliament and make such a statment and get away with it? WHo the hell else was in that room at the time that they didn't challenge this assertion?

Its a mad, mad world we live in, isnt it?

Gulags.....

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Ed

Gulags.....

Maybe thats why they are making a fuss over that footage of the POW camp footage on the telly today.....

[ophic]

Originally Posted by madness

I'm sure that any government has powers to do pretty much anything they want using the excuse that it's in the interest of national security etc. etc.
However, as has already been posted, if this report is true why haven't we heard more about it? But then again, I'm sure the government already has powers to censor the press. I wonder if they're monitoring this very thread to see what we discuss!
On that note I'll leave it!

I love our government, they're doing a wonderful job especially that lovely Jacqui Smith!

Baph hasn't posted since 9:25... should we worry yet?

[Stu]

Originally Posted by hob

Same owners?/place? Murdoch.

Well that's how you take over the world Mwahhaahahahah.
By appealling to all sections of the community with different products.

What I meant was to have any credibility why not go to a mainstream paper. UKColumn could be like the Register for all I know

[Stu]

I wrote to Jim'll Fix it when I was 9.



When do you think they are coming for me?

Originally Posted by Stu

UKColumn could be like the Register for all I know

I find the Register more credible than most newspapers

But yea I do get your point

Now that this has had some time to sit, I'll fess up.

UKColumn is the news site you go to if you wear a hat made of tin foil, so the government can't mess with your thoughts.

TFAC does exist, but literally all they do is point healthcare professionals your way. They don't have the ability to detain anyone (unless it's extremely exceptional circumstances - and then that person would be arrested under the Terrorism Act & dealt with accordingly).

I wonder how many noticed the rolleyes smiley on the thread subject? Maybe that was too much of a giveaway.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by Baph

They don't have the ability to detain anyone (unless it's extremely exceptional circumstances - and then that person would be arrested under the Terrorism Act & dealt with accordingly).
(

Not quite right there Baph, if a phyciatrist says they want you sectioned as your a danger to yourself and/or others then off you go to a secure mental unit.

the worst bit about getting accused of being nuts is that whatever you say in response just plays into their hands.

Dr: Sir, i;m sectioning you cos your nuts
Me: No i'm not i'm absolutley normal
Dr: Only a true nut-job would say that
Me: In that case i'm a banana
Dr: See i told you you werent well. take him away mr copper.

The worst part is that mxinf cops and healtcare proffesionals means the cops can put pressure on the Drs to section someone if they dont have any suitable evidence to hold them. And mental healtcare proffesionals should never be leant on that way.

if they guy wrote in to The Times they may just dismiss him as a nutter, so i guess he went where they would air his views.

the original story about the TFAC was carried in The Times tho.

Sadly in this day and age i'm kinda inclined to believe that the cops would use this to get peeps they have little evidence on. Amd before people start calling me all sorts of names just remember that no one ever hought the Govt would use anti terroe laws on an old man in their own party confrence hall just cos he shouted "rubbish" did they.
Give Govt a new law to abuse people with and they will happily use ...and abuse it, sadly.

Spidey, may I refer you to Section 4 of the Mental Health Act 2007? An "appropriate treatment test" has been introduced, meaning they must have undisputable proof to detain under Section 53, and if it's contraty to the patients wishes, they've also got to comply with Section 63.

Usually, this means amongst other things, video evidence independantly verified.

Also don't be forgetting the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (which comes in to play when detaining under s.63 MHA).

(I used to work in an asylum, some people say I escaped...)

EDIT: Yes, it can be abused even so, but it's a lot harder than it first looks. That's a debate that will go around in circles.