‘Ethnic minorities should complain’

A member of the David Bennett Inquiry panel has urged the
families of people from ethnic minorities with mental health
problems to complain about poor treatment to the Commission for
Racial Equality.

Dr Richard Stone, who sat on the panel that looked into Bennett’s
death in 1998 at the Norvic Centre in Norwich, said: ” When you
visit [the place of detention] you should be watching for
inappropriate behaviour and use the Race Relations Amendment Act
2000 if you need to, and report it to the Commission for Racial
Equality.”

Bennett died after he was restrained face down for 25 minutes. The
report into his death recommended that nobody should be restrained
for longer than three minutes but the government has so far failed
to act on the recommendation.

Health minister Rosie Winterton issued guidance last week to help
people in primary care trusts deliver better mental health services
for people from ethnic minorities. 

Celebrating Cultures from www.nimhe.org.uk