Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018

Mental Health (Discrimination) Act 2013
Act of Parliament
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision about the oversight and management of the appropriate use of force in relation to people in mental health units; to make provision about the use of body cameras by police officers in the course of duties in relation to people in mental health units; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2018 c. 27
Introduced by	Steve Reed MP (Commons); Baroness Massey of Darwen (Lords)
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	1 November 2018
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Last updated August 20, 2025

The Mental Health (Discrimination) Act 2013 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom introduced to the House of Commons by Steve Reed, the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Croydon North.

Background

The legislation was referred to as "Seni's law", referring to a patient who died after being forcibly restrained.^[1]^[2]

Provisions

The legislation requires that police officers wear body cameras unless there are legitimate operational reasons not to.^[2] Non-natural deaths in mental health units are required to automatically trigger an independent investigation.^[2]

Implementation

Guidance to implement the legislation was published in 2021.^[3] The guidance states that patients must not be pinned face down.^[4] According to the Guardian, as of 2024, patients continue to be pinned face down.^[4]

Reception

The legislation was supported by the charity, Mind.^[5]

References

↑ Torjesen, Ingrid (7 December 2021). "Mental health units: new law targets inappropriate use of force" . BMJ. 375: n3032. doi:10.1136/bmj.n3032. ISSN 1756-1833. PMID 34876455.
1 2 3 "Seni's law: Commons approve mental health unit reforms". BBC News. 6 July 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
↑ O'Byrne Mulligan, Euan (7 December 2021). "Seni's Law: Restraint reforms for mental health patients". This is Local London. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
1 2 Campbell, Denis (29 December 2024). "Controversial face-down restraint still being used for mental health patients in England". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
↑ "Mental Health Units (Use of Force Bill) becomes law". The House. PoliticsHome. 1 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.

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[1] Torjesen, Ingrid (7 December 2021). "Mental health units: new law targets inappropriate use of force" . BMJ. 375: n3032. doi:10.1136/bmj.n3032. ISSN 1756-1833. PMID 34876455.

[:0-2] 1 2 3 "Seni's law: Commons approve mental health unit reforms". BBC News. 6 July 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.

[3] O'Byrne Mulligan, Euan (7 December 2021). "Seni's Law: Restraint reforms for mental health patients". This is Local London. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.

[:1-4] 1 2 Campbell, Denis (29 December 2024). "Controversial face-down restraint still being used for mental health patients in England". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2025.

[5] "Mental Health Units (Use of Force Bill) becomes law". The House. PoliticsHome. 1 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.

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