Law protecting mental health patients named after South London man comes into force

Patients in mental health facilities will be better protected from use of force from today by a law named after a 23-year-old black man who died in hospital in South London.

Olaseni ‘Seni’ Lewis, from South Norwood, died as a result of prolonged restraint by Metropolitan police officers at Bethlem Royal Hospital in Beckenham on August 31, 2010.

The Government published the guidance on the law today.

It will improve record keeping and reporting of data on the use of force, the quality of staff training and the way in which investigations are carried out.

Aji Lewis, Seni’s mother said: “I want Seni here with me but they took him away. 

“The police dangerously restrained him to death with mental health hospital staff watching on. 

“The enactment of this law is important to us because we do not want anyone else to suffer like this.

“It’s so good to see the guidance published today and the Act being commenced. 

“This is my son’s legacy, and I hope it will mean what happened to Seni will not happen to anyone else.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the government and mental health providers to make sure the Act is properly implemented and real change is achieved.” 

Mr Lewis had voluntarily gone to the hospital seeking care for mental health issues.

He died from lack of oxygen to the brain after being restrained by police officers.

An inquiry in 2017, seven years after the incident, ruled that the restraint was disproportionate.

It also found the officers had failed to follow training on both the restraint of people with medical conditions and treatment of non-responsive people. 

The IPCC recommended a review of six police officers for gross misconduct in relation to the incident, but all were later cleared by the Metropolitan Police in closed hearings.

The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill 2018, known as “Seni’s Law”, was passed into law in November 2018.

The guidance was developed with help from those with lived experience, the NHS, regulators and Aji Lewis and Seni’s family.

Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North, said: “I’m delighted the guidance for Seni’s Law has now been published and a date is in sight for the Act to come into force. 

“Seni Lewis died in tragic and avoidable circumstances. 

“His legacy is this Act and the changes it makes to ensure people with mental ill health are treated with care, compassion and respect.”

Minister for Mental health Gillian Keegan said: “It is vital anyone receiving care in a mental health setting – a time which can be incredibly distressing – is treated with dignity and respect.

“Today’s legislation and guidance is an important step forward to ending the disproportionate and inappropriate use of force – protecting both patients and our fantastic workforce – within our mental health services.

“We must ensure what happened to Seni does not happen to anyone else. 

“I want to thank Seni’s family, particularly his mother Aji, and Steve Reed MP for driving this work forward.”