Seni's Law Will Protect Mentally Ill After 11-Year Fight For Justice

A LAW to limit the use of force to restrain mental patients will finally be implemented following a decade-long campaign by a victim’s family.

- John Twomey

Seni Lewis, 23, died after he was restrained by 11 police officers as he suffered an acute psychotic episode while at a mental health unit.

The tragedy exposed poor training in the use of force, racism within mental health services and other serious failings.

An inquest concluded that Seni was the victim of “excessive, unreasonable and disproportionate” restraint.

Six of the officers faced disciplinary proceedings for alleged gross misconduct. They were all subsequently cleared.

Seni’s family have been campaigning for legislation to limit the use of force against mental health patients ever since his death in 2010.

Known as Seni’s Law, it received royal assent in 2018 but will only now come into operation following statutory guidance from the Government.