Arrests follow incident at Alderley mental health unit

Fourteen male patients were arrested for criminal damage after trouble broke out at a local mental health hospital.

Police, fire crews and ambulances were called to Soss Moss Hospital on Chelford Road, Nether Alderley just before 8pm on Saturday, 5th July, following reports of a disturbance.

The disturbance occurred in the Saddlebridge Unit, which is a low secure mental health unit which can accommodate up to 15 males. All 14 patients who were on the unit at the time of the incident were arrested.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “At 7.55pm on Saturday, 5 July, Cheshire Police were called to an incident at Soss Moss, a mental health facility in Nether Alderley, following a disturbance on a ward.

“The incident concluded at 11pm with 14 people arrested for criminal damage. Staff had been escorted from the premises and nobody was injured in this incident.

A spokesperson from Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the unit, commented: “Cheshire Police were called to an incident at 7.55pm on Saturday 5th July at Soss Moss Hospital, a mental health facility in Nether Alderley. A disturbance had taken place following which 14 patients from the ward were arrested for criminal damage offences. Patients and staff from the ward are safe and have evacuated the area. Nobody was injured in this incident.

“We would like to make clear that at no point was the perimeter of the Unit breached. Staff followed due procedure when the disturbance began.

“A Police containment was put in place and the patients voluntarily left the building under Police escort. Following procedure they were medically assessed prior to being retained in Police custody.

“All patients have been bailed pending further investigation and assessment of the evidence. Patients are being assigned to other secure units in the North West.

“A Police investigation into the cause of the disturbance is ongoing.”