A Conundrum

The case of Stephen Griffiths serves to graphically illustrate a problem that society has yet to find a solution for. The self-styled 'crossbow cannibal' who was sentenced yesterday at Leeds Crown Court having pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and given a 'whole life' tariff was clearly dangerous and suffered from a serious personality disorder. We know this because the signs were there from quite early on and he is reported as telling his probation officer that he would kill when he reached his thirties.

I'm pretty sure the probation officer did not need telling because Griffiths had been in touch with psychiatric services from the age of at least 17. He spent periods at Rampton Special Hospital and was treated as an outpatient at two other psychiatric hospitals right up to 2009. Although he was assessed as 'highly dangerous' crucially psychiatrists said he was not suffering from a mental illness and therefore was regarded as 'not treatable'. This is extremely significant because it means that the powers available under the Mental Health Act cannot be invoked.

The conundrum society faces is that basically no matter how sure we are as to a person's dangerousness, their liberty cannot be denied before they commit a serious offence. If you like a situation like this is at the extreme alternative end of the very broad health and safety spectrum. Most probation officers will know of similar scary clients that cross their path, but until they commit that serious so-called index offence, there's seemingly nothing that can be done.

I've always had an interest in forensic psychiatry and psychology and I know from experience that there are a relatively significant group of people in touch with psychiatric services who display equally worrying behaviours and symptoms. But can anything be done? We already have thousands of prisoners in custody under the terms of Indeterminate Public Protection sentences who should be released. The problem is that everyone knows that some of them - estimated by one Governor to be about 40 - are very dangerous. The problem is, which 40? 

As regards Griffiths, I think the prognosis is extremely poor and the Prison Service will be greatly tested ensuring that he does not take his own life, or that of another whilst in prison. For these reasons, not withstanding his supposed 'untreatable' condition, I feel he will be transferred to Special Hospital sooner rather than later.