Mitie has won a £15 million contract awarded by Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership to provide healthcare and liaison services in custody suites.

The contract has been secured by Mitie’s Care & Custody Health business, which provides forensic medical and sexual assault referral centre (SARC) examination services to a number of police forces throughout the UK.

The three-year deal, with an option to extend for another two one-year periods, will see Mitie coordinate an “integrated health, liaison and diversion partnership” with organisations including five Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company, and North and East London Strategic Commissioning Support Unit.

The partnership will ensure that the health of people of all ages who commit, or are suspected of a crime will be assessed while they are in custody. Those with mental health issues, learning disabilities, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities will be supported to access appropriate services.

The service is also set to operate in courts.

Mayor and police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd, commented: “If we are to effectively reduce reoffending and protect the vulnerable we need to think innovatively about how we commission services. People who find themselves in a police cell often have underlying health issues that may cause them to offend, such as mental ill health or substance abuse, so it’s common sense to bring police and health together.”

Mitie says this is the first time that UK police and health organisations are working together to provide an integrated healthcare and liaison and diversion service in custody suites, at court and in the community.