CARE for mentally ill offenders was the focus of an international conference at the University of Central Lancashire yesterday (Wednesday, July 21).

Parliamentary Under Secretary for Health John Hutton was a guest speaker at the university's new Harrington Conference Centre, in Adelphi Street. Delegates from five countries attended the 'Creating Caring Communities for Mentally Ill Offenders' conference to discuss the range of services provided in the UK.

The three-day event was a joint initiative between university bosses and staff at the Ehrenkranz School of Social Work, based in New York, in America.

It focused on various issues including risk assessment, mentally ill women and violence, the media and mentally ill offenders and nursing in a secure environment.

Guest speakers included Professor Jonathan Hill, of Liverpool University, Professor Hjalmar van Marle, psychiatric advisor for the Ministry of Justice in The Netherlands and Dr Gerald Landsberg, of New York University.

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