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Supporting people in the criminal justice system
The Liaison and Diversion Team may have spoken to you while you were in custody or court and agreed to support you further in the community, or you may have been given a leaflet as an opportunity to opt into the service. This guide provides information about the team and how to contact us.
Who do we support?
We offer support to everyone in contact with the criminal justice system as suspects, defendants or offenders.
How can we help?
The Liaison and Diversion Team provides vulnerability screenings and short term assistance to people at the earliest opportunity, who are within the criminal justice system. We work jointly with other professionals, including the police and courts.
Our team has a wide variety of experience and knowledge, including lived experience of the criminal justice system. We aim to support people to engage with services that will promote health, wellbeing and quality of life while maintaining independence.
If a concern is raised about the vulnerability or welfare of an individual, the Liaison and Diversion Team may be asked to meet with them to fully review their circumstances. This can be done in person or, if required, by phone. The Liaison and Diversion team can advise on what, if any, adaptions need to be made to provide support.
If the Liaison and Diversion Team meet with someone they can also discuss, support and plan for identified care needs, including making onward referrals to:
- Drug and alcohol services
- Education and employment services
- GPs
- Housing
- Mental health services
- Probation and youth offending services
- Social services
- Specialist services
- Therapy services
- Third sector organisations.
Where do we work?
We work from a variety of different bases around the region:
- Belle Vale Custody Suite
- Copy Lane Custody Suite
- Liverpool Magistrates’Court
- Liverpool Crown Court
- Liverpool Youth Court
- St Anne’s Street CustodySuite
- South Sefton Magistrates’Court
- Wirral Custody Suite
- Wirral Magistrates’ Court.
How to contact us
If you would like more information about the service and the support available to you, contact the team by calling 0151 478 6550, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
Urgent Care contact details
The Liaison and Diversion Team is not a crisis service. If you need urgent support with your physical or mental health, please contact urgent care services:
Liverpool and Sefton (for anyone aged 16 and over needing urgent mental health support) call freephone on 0800 145 6570 (24/7)
Halton, Knowsley, St Helens or Warrington (for all ages needing urgent mental health support) call
freephone on 0800 051 1508 (24/7)
If you live outside of the above areas, find your local mental health crisis line on the NHS website.
Our patients matter
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens andresponds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.
If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and LiaisonService (PALS) and Complaints Team.
Telephone: 0151 471 2377Freephone: 0800 328 2941Email: palsandcomplaints
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Approval date: 15 May 2025
Review date: 5 May 2026
Version number: 1