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Voluntary Attendees (VA)/Voluntary Interviews (VI)
The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team (CJLDT) is based within custody suites. Due to the number of people who are dealt with outside of the custody suites via VA or VI, these individuals are not assessed by CJLDT. This means that they are not given the same opportunity as someone who is arrested and taken to custody.
Who are we?
We are a team of experienced and qualified mental health practitioners with backgrounds in mental health, learning disability, youth, nursing, occupational therapy and social work, and we support practitioners from a variety of backgrounds including substance misuse, youth work, custodial settings and psychology.
What we do
CJLDT aims to improve the health and criminal justice outcomes for adults and children who come into contact with the criminal justice system (CJS) where a range of complex needs are identified as factors in their offending behaviour.
You can contact us to discuss any individuals you may be concerned about; we have access to NHS clinical systems for Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral. Phone advice and guidance may suffice for your query.
Our VA/ VI screening process will be conducted through two weekly ‘health screening clinics’ based sequentially, every two weeks, between Marsh Lane police station, SAS custody suite and Birkenhead police station. The clinics will take place in a room in the station/suite and last for four hours either in the morning from 9.00am or the afternoon from 1.00pm.
In urgent or high priority and complex cases, we can attend St Anne Street, Marsh Lane and Birkenhead police stations to complete an assessment of an individual prior to the VA/ VI. We are flexible and if required we can attend other police stations dependant upon activity in custody.
We offer assessment and access to appropriate interventions in order to reduce health inequalities, reduce crime and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the CJS. We support diversion of individuals, where appropriate, out of the CJS into health or other supportive services or diversion within the CJS into an appropriate pathway.
Consent must be sought prior to CJLDT sharing information or attending a police station to complete an assessment. This is the responsibility of the investigating officers.
How to refer
We work with all vulnerabilities and offer an open referral system.
You can refer to us by contacting one of our offices to discuss your case:
- St Anne Street custody suite – 0151 777 4857
- Copy Lane custody suite – 0151 777 3132
- Wirral custody suite – 0151 777 2783
- South Sefton Magistrates Court – 0151 478 6550
- Liverpool Combined Courts – 0151 478 6599
You can also email your referral to our secure email address: mcn-tr.Criminal-Justice@nhs.net
If you are emailing the referral please can you include:
- Name, DOB and address
- Alleged offence
- Concerns
- Information you would like to support you in making an informed decisio
- Time and place of VA/ VI if you are requesting our attendance.
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