Health characteristics of older police custody detainees in London,UK |
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| Authors: | Iain McKinnon Adrian Hayes Don Grubin |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK;2. Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK;3. Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University, UK;4. Oxford Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK;5. Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK |
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| Abstract: | The number of older adults involved in the criminal justice system is rising. Little is known about the state of health in older people who are arrested. This study compared characteristics and health care needs of older police custody detainees with their younger counterparts. The health characteristics of 57 police detainees aged over 50 were compared with 543 younger detainees. Older detainees had significantly higher rates of physical illness and risk of alcohol withdrawal. Although there were equivalent rates of mental disorder and drug taking compared with younger detainees, a higher proportion had presentations consistent with cognitive impairment due to possible dementing processes. Over 80% of older detainees were recommended to have a health assessment in police stations based on their presentation. Police detainees over 50 should be considered to have a health assessment as routine procedure. Further investigation should also be conducted into cognitive impairment in this group. |
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| Keywords: | Older detainees police custody mental health criminal justice system hard to access populations |
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