Hafal provides a range of criminal justice services across Wales that aim to support offenders with mental illness to help reduce re-offending.
Survival Guide
Hafal has published an online guide for people with a mental illness who come into contact with criminal justice agencies.
The guide gives you key tips on your rights and responsibilities – and how you can get the best support.
Appropriate Adult Service
When a vulnerable person is arrested, they require an appropriate adult to support them during their time in custody. Hafal provide an appropriate adult service to South Wales, Dyfed Powys, Gwent and North Wales Police. The service operates 24/7, 365 days per year.
Appropriate adults support, advise and assist the detainee when they are in custody. They ensure that the police act fairly and respect the rights of the detainee. Appropriate adults help communication between the detainee, the police and others, but do not give legal advice.
Our appropriate adults work with people with a range of vulnerabilities:
- Mental illness
- Learning difficulties
- Learning disabilities
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- 17 year olds (Hafal does not provide appropriate adults to people under 17)
- People who are vulnerable due to the nature of the offence.
Hafal also provide appropriate adults for external organisations, including Department for Work and Pensions investigations and victim and witness interviews. If you would like to request an appropriate adult, email appropriateadult@hafal.org.
Watch the HafalTV report on our appropriate adult service below.
To find out more information or to apply to become an appropriate adult, click here.
Hafal Mental Health Sanctuary Service
The Sanctuary is a brand new out of hours service that provides practical and therapeutic, holistic person centred support to people at risk of mental health crisis in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. The service is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 6pm until 3am.
The service is set in a welcoming and homely environment, with a lounge area, a kitchen/dining area, shower and clothes washing facilities. There are also private areas for those who need quiet time and/or 1:2:1 support.
The Sanctuary aims to lessen hospital admissions and reduce the risk of harm for people in their homes. Individuals’ safety and wellbeing will be fully assessed before they return home, with referrals to other services as appropriate.
We can offer support to people aged 17 years, 9 months and above who may be experiencing:-
- Difficulties or anxieties relating to the coronavirus pandemic
- Stress and/or anxiety
- Low mood
- Financial worries
- Difficulties with loneliness, isolation and family or relationship worries
- Suffering from domestic violence
- Deteriorating mental health as a result of a range of factors
Referrals can be made by GPs and other professionals through your local Single Point of Access (SPOA):
• Swansea: 01792 517 039
• Neath Port Talbot: 01639 862 032
More information:
Click here to read the Mental Health Wales Criminal Justice journal and find out some of the issues in the criminal justice system.
Contact us if you would like more information about any of our criminal justice services.
