If you are the victim of a serious crime by a restricted patient detained because of mental illness, you can ask for certain conditions on their release (‘discharge’).
The First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health) decides when patients can be released.
You can ask the tribunal to place conditions on the patient’s release if you are a:
victim of a violent or sexual offence by the patient
close family member of a victim who cannot do it themselves, for example they have died, are mentally incapacitated or they are too young
This is known as ‘a written representation’.
Conditions you can ask for
Discharge conditions can include:
banning the patient from contacting you
making ‘exclusion zones’ that the patient is not allowed to enter
The tribunal can only place discharge conditions on restricted patients, for example patients who have received an order from the Crown Court or been transferred from prison.
The tribunal cannot place conditions on:
non-restricted patients - your written representation will be given to the patient’s psychiatrist if they are discharged
community treatment patients - the patient’s doctor may be able to place conditions on their discharge
When to make your representation
Restricted patients
You will be contacted by your Victim Liaison Officer (VLO) who will tell you:
what is happening with the patient’s detention
the dates of any future hearings
when you can make your representation
Contact the tribunal if you have not been contacted by a VLO.
First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health)
PO Box 8793
5th Floor
Leicester
LE1 8BN
Non-restricted patients
You will be contacted by the hospital manager when there is going to be a hearing.
How to make your representation
Your VLO will help you fill in the victim representation form.
You must say only:
that you think conditions should be placed on the patient, if discharged
what those conditions should be
Do not include anything else, for example your feelings, unless it is relevant to the conditions you are requesting.
All members of the tribunal panel will get a copy of your representation form.
Withholding your representation from the patient
Patients can usually read all representations at their hearing. You can ask for your representation to be withheld from the patient, but this will only be allowed under exceptional circumstances, for example if someone’s safety will be put at risk.
Contact your VLO or the hospital manager who will ask the tribunal on your behalf.
Attending a hearing
You usually will not be allowed to attend and make your representation at the hearing.
If you think there are exceptional circumstances, write to the tribunal in advance explaining why you need to be heard in person.
You will be told the time and place if the tribunal agrees to let you attend. You will probably be asked to leave after you have made your representation.
The tribunal’s decision
In restricted cases, your VLO will be told about the tribunal’s decision within 7 days of the hearing.
In non-restricted cases, a hospital doctor will tell you the tribunal’s decision.
You have a right to know:
if and when the patient is going to be discharged
any conditions placed on the patient that you need to know
any changes to conditions that you have been told of in the past
if and when a restriction order is going to stop
Additional information on making a victim representation to the mental health tribunal can be found on GOV.UK's website.