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Welsh assembly members were called back from the summer recess last week to debate the draft mental health bill amid concerns that it conflicted with the principality’s own strategy.

"All members agreed that it does not sit comfortably with the adult mental health strategy that the assembly has already agreed upon," said Kirsty Williams, the Liberal Democrat who chaired the debate.

"Our emphasis is on empowerment and our strategy says different things from what this bill is about."

Cathie Morton, director of Mind Cymru, said: "What emerged from the debate was that there was deep division over keeping community compulsion in the bill and the wide definition of mental illness contained within it.

"The politicians also disagreed about the whole tenor of the bill being based on the ‘dangerousness’ of a few mentally ill people."