Luciana Berger MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, responding to reports a 16-year-old girl with mental health issues is in police custody because no NHS beds are available, said:

“This sad situation is becoming worryingly common. People shouldn’t face the indignity of being kept in police cells when they are at their most vulnerable.   "The Government promised parity for mental health services, yet we’re going backwards. In recent years, they have suffered more than other NHS services and are falling deeper and deeper into crisis. The NHS has lost 1,500 specialist beds and thousands of mental health nurses.

“This is an appalling reflection of the crisis in mental health services and the Government must get to grips with it.”