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Civil Liberties & Human Rights

Psychiatric Detention

Susie-Labinjoh-2
Susie Labinjoh
Partner
Claire Brigham
Claire Brigham
Partner
Cormac McDonough
Cormac McDonough
Partner
Jocelyn Cockburn
Jocelyn Cockburn
Partner
Maria O'Connell
Maria O’Connell
Partner
Sasha Barton
Sasha Barton
Partner
Alisha McSporran
Paralegal
Aniqa Khan
Paralegal
Aston Luff
Aston Luff
Solicitor
Brid Doherty
Bríd Doherty
Associate
Charlotte Sykes
Charlotte Sykes
Solicitor
Darcey Hayes
Paralegal
Gimhani Eriyagolla
Gimhani Eriyagolla
Associate
Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell
Solicitor
Isabelle Robson
Isabelle Robson
Paralegal
Lottie Baldwin
Lottie Baldwin
Solicitor
Megan Finnis
Megan Finnis
Solicitor
Rebecca Shotton
Rebecca Shotton
Solicitor
Ronan Stewart
Rónán Stewart
Trainee
Ruth Waters-Falk
Ruth Waters-Falk
Solicitor
Sabrina Pinto_Website
Sabrina Pinto
Paralegal
Sarah Flanagan
Sarah Flanagan
Associate
Sebastian Del Monte
Sebastian Del Monte
Solicitor
Shakti Bhagwansingh
Shakti Bhagwansingh
Solicitor
Sion Morgan
Sion Morgan
Solicitor
Stephen Hare
Stephen Hare
Paralegal

If you, or someone close to you, has ever been detained or ‘sectioned’ under the Mental Health Act, you know how difficult it is for you and your family.

Should you have concerns about serious failings of care in detention, legal action could be taken against the mental health service providers where they’ve failed to meet their obligations under the Human Rights Act.

We’re known for our persistence in fighting to protect our clients’ rights. We’re committed to seeking amends and justice for our clients.

We have a highly successful record. We secure compensation, apologies, admissions of wrongdoing, and policy changes to improve the standard of care for patients detained under the Mental Health Act.

HJA Chambers firm logo 2024 PNGLegal 500 UK - Top Tier Firm-2025

The Human Rights Act – protecting the right to life and privacy

The Human Rights Act protects the right to life and privacy. It also requires mental health services to protect patients from inhuman and degrading treatment and stops discrimination because of a disability. Hospitals and those responsible for psychiatric detention must fully investigate any breaches of these fundamental rights.

We also represent families of those who’ve died in psychiatric detention where reasonable steps could’ve been taken to prevent the death but weren’t.

We’re unable to assist with challenges to medical decisions taken about treatment. This includes the decision to detain a person under the Mental Health Act.

"IT WASN'T JUST THE LEGAL ADVICE THAT IMPRESSED ME, IT WAS THE EMPATHY, COMPASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM OF MY SOLICITOR WHICH SET HER APART."

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Issues we can help with

  • Incidents of serious physical, verbal or sexual abuse
  • Use of excessive force
  • Serious injury or death whilst in detention or under the care of mental health services
  • Challenging coroners’ inquest findings and death investigations
  • Neglecting basic standards of health and safety or hygiene
  • Unnecessary disclosure of personal medical information to third parties
Contact our specialist team on
0330 822 3451
or request a call back.
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Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen?

Highly experienced lawyers

The team are leading Human Rights & Civil Liberties Specialists. They have a huge amount of experience dealing with Psychiatric Detention Claims. You will be in safe hands.

Award winning

The team have won several awards both individually and as a team. They’re recognised as leaders in the field.

We’re top ranked in Chambers & Partners 2024 for Police Law and also ranked for Civil Liberties & Human Rights and Administrative & Public Law. We’re also ranked in Legal 500 for Civil Liberties & Human Rights and Administrative and Public Law.

Care & compassion

The team are well versed in helping people through very tough times. You can be assured that they will deal with the case in a compassionate way.

"I FELT I COULD TRUST THE TEAM TO BE FIGHTING FOR MY CASE TO GET THE BEST OUTCOME."

“They have really made their mark in this field.”Chambers UK, 2025

“HJA combines one of the strongest reputations for civil liberties work of any UK firm with an outstanding client service in every single case I have worked with the firm over many years. It has achieved an impressive size without any sacrifice in quality by its growth, which is testament to its in-house training and rigorous recruitment standard.”Legal 500, 2025

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What happens when you contact us?

Contact our human rights team

Whatever your needs, our team of highly experienced solicitors will provide you with the help and advice you need. To seek advice from our specialist team of solicitors contact us by telephone or through our online form.

We’ll gather the information to review your case

Once we’ve spoken to you and we have the details of your complaint we’ll let you know whether we can assist you. If we’re able to assist, then one of our specialist solicitors will be in touch to discuss the case with you in more detail and talk about your options.

Challenges to medical decisions

We’re unable to assist with challenges to medical decisions taken about treatment, including a decision to detain you under the Mental Health Act.

"The lawyers provide an extremely high level of knowledge and expertise. They clearly communicate and are able to answer all questions efficiently and to a high degree." - Chambers UK, 2025

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"I am happy to recommend HJA to anyone. My solicitor was helpful, courteous and knowledgeable and provided good guidance throughout the duration of my case."