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Series

Home Office: Mental Patients (MNP Symbol Series) Files

Catalogue reference: HO 343

What's it about?

HO 343

This series consists of registered files in the MNP symbol series including papers originally registered in the BRP (Broadmoor patients) series. Some files refer to individual cases (HO 343/1-43), as well as more general policy and procedures in...

Full description and record details

Reference

HO 343

Title
Home Office: Mental Patients (MNP Symbol Series) Files
Date

1927-2001

Description

This series consists of registered files in the MNP symbol series including papers originally registered in the BRP (Broadmoor patients) series. Some files refer to individual cases (HO 343/1-43), as well as more general policy and procedures in relation to offenders with mental health issues.

Related material

A sample of patient files in special hospitals are in MH 103

Separated material

Review of the BRP series in 1987 resulted in no files being selected

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference

MNP Symbol file series

Legal status

Public Record(s)

Language

English

Creator(s)
  • Home Office, Criminal Department, 1960-1975
  • Home Office, Criminal Department, 1983-1986
  • Home Office, Criminal Division, 1949-1959
  • Home Office, Criminal Policy Department, 1976-1982
  • Home Office, Criminal Policy Department, 1987-1987
Physical description

183 file(s)

Access conditions

Open unless otherwise stated

Immediate source of acquisition

From 1988 Home Office

Accruals

Series is accruing

Selection and destruction information

A small specimen of case files were selected, relating to non-domestic murder cases where there was felt to be extra interest. These files pre-date the change in the law with regards to a defence of 'diminished responsibility' resulting in a maximum charge of manslaughter rather than murder.

Administrative / biographical background

The Home Office involvement with mental patients is defined by the Criminal Lunatic Asylum Act 1861, Criminal Lunatics Act 1884 and Mental Health Act 1959, and consist predominantly of personal case files. This involvement is currently handled by C3 Division of the Criminal Policy Department, having previously been a function of C Division

The Home Secretary has responsibility (under the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 and the Mental Health 1983) for those mentally disordered offenders ordered by the courts to be admitted to hospital, or transferred on the Home Secretary's authority from prison to hospital, and who are subject to restriction orders or directions. His consent is required for the patient's discharge, transfer between hospitals or grant of leave from hospital. In exercising these powers the Home Secretary is responsible for protecting the public from unjustifiable risk.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C9207/

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

1,719,919 records

Within the department: HO

Records created or inherited by the Home Office, Ministry of Home Security, and related...

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Home Office: Mental Patients (MNP Symbol Series) Files