The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre: preventing harm and facilitating care

Abstract

The main risk of death or serious harm to public figures in western countries comes not from terrorists or criminals, but from the activities of lone individuals with intense pathological fixations, the majority of whom are mentally disordered. We report preliminary efficacy data from the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC), the first joint police/National Health Service unit in the United Kingdom, which was set up to assess and manage such risks. One hundred consecutive cases assessed as being of moderate or high concern were examined. Eighty-six per cent suffered from psychotic illness. Following FTAC intervention, 57% were admitted to hospital by local psychiatric services, and 26% taken on by community psychiatric teams. Concern levels were reduced to low through FTAC interventions in 80% of cases. FTAC proved able to catalyse suitable health outcomes which both benefited the patients and reduced risk to public figures. The advantages of joint police-National Health Service units are discussed.

Keywords:

• threat assessment
• stalking
• public figures
• diversion
• risk
• violence

Acknowledgements

We owe particular thanks to S.W., obstitrix altrixque operis. We are grateful to everyone at FTAC and to those in psychiatric services in the United Kingdom and further afield, with whom we have worked in partnership. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of any commissioning or provider agency.