Mental Health Act Statistics, Annual Figures, 2021-22

Section 136 orders are a type of Short Term Detention Order. They are used by the police to move a person to a ‘place of safety’. We report such uses where the place of safety is a hospital. Please see the "Are the MHSDS data complete?" section for guidance on interpreting data quality and completeness.

Males were more likely to be placed under a section 136 order than females (35.8 uses per 100,000 population compared to 31.2 uses per 100,000 population) in 2021-22

Amongst age groups, those aged 18 to 34 were most likely to be placed under a section 136 order (82.5 uses per 100,000 population).

Amongst broad ethnic groups, people of Black or Black British ethnicity were most likely to be placed under a section 136 order (68.8 uses per 100,000 population). The lowest rate was for Asian or Asian British people (24.5 uses per 100,000 population). Figures for lower ethnic groups can be found in the accompanying excel tables and PBI report found in this publication.