We respond to news reports around the Nottingham inquiry

A public inquiry into failings which led to the Nottingham attacks in 2023 began yesterday. While it will take some time before the inquiry concludes, we were concerned by reports that decisions about detention under the Mental Health Act were made due to race. 

Nisa Chisipochinyi, Head of Equity and Racial Justice at Rethink Mental Illness, said:

“This inquiry carries a profound responsibility to bring clarity to what went wrong, both at an organisational level and in the decisions that were made, which led to these tragic deaths. It must be thorough, transparent and focused on learning.

“We will not comment on the specific evidence or recommendations until the inquiry has concluded. However, we are concerned that reports from the inquiry risk causing harm, particularly where complex issues are summed up in headlines or presented in ways that reinforce stigma.

“Two important truths can sit alongside each other. First, where qualified professionals have clear and evidenced concerns that someone presents a serious risk to themselves or to others, detention and treatment under the Mental Health Act can be necessary to ensure safety. These are serious decisions that should follow careful assessment and established legal safeguards.

“Second, national data consistently show that Black people, and Black men in particular, are detained under mental health legislation at disproportionately high rates compared with white people. The reasons for this are deep rooted and systemic, reflecting longstanding inequalities and differences in how people access and experience care. There is no single cause, and there is no single solution. Addressing this requires sustained action, including improving early support, strengthening community services and expanding access to culturally appropriate care.

“The decision to detain someone must be based on clinical assessment and risk, not race.”