Legislation

This page contains links to the most useful pieces of legislation for mental health practitioners.

Main legislation

The three most important Acts have separate menus which are located on the left-hand side of the screen and which have quick links to relevant documents. The Overview pages contain summaries and links to various resources. Alternatively, if you know what you are looking for, then browse through the "category tree" by clicking on the [+] symbols below.

Mental Health Act 2007

Mental Health Act 2007 Overview

Mental Health Act 2007‎ (2 categories, 1 pages)

Mental Health Act 2007 commencement orders‎ (11 pages)

Mental Health Act 2007 secondary legislation‎ (4 categories)

Mental Health Act 2007

Mental Health Act 1983

Mental Health Act 1983 Overview

Mental Health Act 1983‎ (3 categories, 1 pages)

Legislation amending MHA 1983‎ (85 pages)

Mental Health Regulations‎ (7 pages)

Tribunal legislation‎ (34 pages)

Mental Health Act 1983

Mental Capacity Act 2005

Mental Capacity Act 2005 Overview

Mental Capacity Act 2005‎ (2 categories, 1 pages)

Mental Capacity Act 2005 commencement orders‎ (7 pages)

Mental Capacity Act 2005 secondary legislation‎ (5 categories)

Mental Capacity Act 2005

Other legislation

Other useful legislation‎ (30 pages)

Administration of Justice Act 1960

Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018

Criminal Procedure (Insanity and Unfitness to Plead) Act 1991

Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964

Data Protection Act 1998

Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020

Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004

European Convention on Human Rights

Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults 2000

Health Act 2006

Health and Care Act 2022

Health and Social Care Act 2012

High Security Psychiatric Services (Arrangements for Safety and Security at Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton Hospitals) Amendment Directions 2012

High Security Psychiatric Services (Arrangements for Safety and Security at Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton Hospitals) Directions 2011

Human Rights Act 1998

Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019

Mental Health (Absconding Patients from Other Jurisdictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2008

Mental Health (Cross-border Visits) (Scotland) Regulations 2008

Mental Health (Hospital, Guardianship and Treatment) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Mental Health Act 1959

Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018

Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2021

Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 Commencement (No. 1) Regulations 2019

NHS and Community Care Act 1990

Powers of Attorney Act 2023

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Safety and Security in Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton Hospitals Directions 2000

Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014

Victims and Prisoners Act 2024

Visits by Children to Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton Hospitals Directions 1999

Miscellaneous legislation‎ (121 pages)

Access to Health Records Act 1990

Access to Justice Act 1999

Access to Justice Act 1999 (Destination of Appeals) Order 2000

Administration of Justice Act 1969

Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001

Care and Support (Disputes between Local Authorities) Regulations 2014

Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010

Care Quality Commission (Additional Functions) Regulations 2009

Care Quality Commission (Additional Functions) Regulations 2011

Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009

Civil Contingencies Act 2004

Civil Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2011

Community Care, Services for Carers and Children's Services (Direct Payments) (England) Regulations 2009

Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013

Consumer Credit Act 1974

Contempt of Court Act 1981

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Criminal Appeal Act 1968

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Requisite and Minimum Custodial Periods) Order 2024

Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

Criminal Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

Criminal Procedure Rules 2020

Data Protection Act 2018

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Electoral Administration Act 2006

Employment Rights Act 1996

Equality Act 2010

Extradition Act 2003

Family Procedure (Modification of Enactments) Order 2011/1045

Family Procedure Rules 2010

Fatal Accidents Act 1976

Forfeiture Act 1982

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2010

Health and Care Act 2022 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provision) Regulations 2022

Health and Care Act 2022 (Consequential and Related Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2022

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Health and Social Care Act 2008

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014

Health and Social Care Act 2012 (Commencement No.1 and Transitory Provision) Order 2012

Health and Social Care Act 2012 (Commencement No.4, Transitional, Savings and Transitory Provisions) Order 2013

Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983

Homicide Act 1957

Housing Act 1988

Housing Act 1996

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008

Immigration Act 1971

Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975

Insolvency Rules 1986

Interpretation Act 1978

Juries Act 1974

Land Registration Act 2002

Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian (Amendment) Regulations 2010

Law of Property Act 1925

Legal Services Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2009

Limitation Act 1980

Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009

Matrimonial Causes Act 1973

Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) Order 2002

Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016

Mental Health (Approval Functions) Act 2012

Mental Health (Assessment of Former Users of Secondary Mental Health Services) (Wales) Regulations 2011

Mental Health (Conflict of Interest) (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2005

Mental Health (Detention in Conditions of Excessive Security) (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Mental Health (Discrimination) Act 2013

Mental Health (Discrimination) Act 2013 (Commencement) Order 2013

Mental Health (Independent Mental Health Advocates) (Wales) Regulations 2011

Mental Health (Nurses) Order 1983

Mental Health (Nurses) Order 1998

Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Act 1999

Mental Health (Safety and Security) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012

Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015

Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015 (Commencement No 1, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2015

Mental Health (Scotland) Act 2015 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2015

Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010

Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provision) Order 2011

Mental Health Act 1983 (Places of Safety) Regulations 2017

Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (Appointment of Medical Members) Amendment Regulations 2009

National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Health and Health Services and Social Welfare) Order 2010

National Assistance Act 1948

National Health Service (Direct Payments) Regulations 2010

National Health Service (Integrated Care Boards: Responsibilities) Regulations 2022

National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006

National Health Service Act 2006

National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) (Amendment) Regulations 2016

National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012

NHS Redress (Wales) Measure 2008

NHS Redress (Wales) Measure 2008 (Commencement) Order 2011

Ordinary Residence Disputes (Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc. Act 2003) Directions 2010

Ordinary Residence Disputes (Mental Capacity Act 2005) Directions 2010

Ordinary Residence Disputes (National Assistance Act 1948) Directions 2010

Policing and Crime Act 2017 (Commencement No 4 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2017

Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005

Prison Act 1952

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Public Guardian (Fees, etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984

Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984

Representation of the People Act 1983

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Senior Courts Act 1981

Sexual Offences Act 2003

Smoke-free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007

Smoke-free Premises etc. (Wales) Regulations 2007

Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991

Social Security (Hospital In-Patients) Regulations 2005

Social Security (Persons Serving a Sentence of Imprisonment Detained in Hospital) Regulations 2010

Solicitors Act 1974

State Pension Credit Regulations 2002

Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974

Suicide Act 1961

Supervision and Treatment Orders (Maximum Period) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011

UK Borders Act 2007

West London Mental Health National Health Service Trust (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2018