Catalogue description Home Office: Mental Patients (MNP Symbol Series) Files

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Date range

Details of HO 343
Reference: HO 343
Title: Home Office: Mental Patients (MNP Symbol Series) Files
Description:

This series consists of registered files in the MNP symbol series including papers originally registered in the BRP (Broadmoor patients) series. Some files refer to individual cases (HO 343/1-43), as well as more general policy and procedures in relation to offenders with mental health issues.
Date: 1927-2001
Related material:

A sample of patient files in special hospitals are in MH 103
Separated material:

Review of the BRP series in 1987 resulted in no files being selected
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department: MNP Symbol file series
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:

Home Office, Criminal Department, 1960-1975

Home Office, Criminal Department, 1983-1986

Home Office, Criminal Division, 1949-1959

Home Office, Criminal Policy Department, 1976-1982

Home Office, Criminal Policy Department, 1987-
Physical description: 182 file(s)
Access conditions: Open unless otherwise stated
Immediate source of acquisition:

From 1988 Home Office
Selection and destruction information: A small specimen of case files were selected, relating to non-domestic murder cases where there was felt to be extra interest. These files pre-date the change in the law with regards to a defence of 'diminished responsibility' resulting in a maximum charge of manslaughter rather than murder.
Accruals: Series is accruing
Administrative / biographical background:

The Home Office involvement with mental patients is defined by the Criminal Lunatic Asylum Act 1861, Criminal Lunatics Act 1884 and Mental Health Act 1959, and consist predominantly of personal case files. This involvement is currently handled by C3 Division of the Criminal Policy Department, having previously been a function of C Division

The Home Secretary has responsibility (under the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 and the Mental Health 1983) for those mentally disordered offenders ordered by the courts to be admitted to hospital, or transferred on the Home Secretary's authority from prison to hospital, and who are subject to restriction orders or directions. His consent is required for the patient's discharge, transfer between hospitals or grant of leave from hospital. In exercising these powers the Home Secretary is responsible for protecting the public from unjustifiable risk.

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