Pictured: Paul Tubb, solicitor at Mander Cruickshank 

More resources are needed to divert mentally ill prisoners away from the courts and into places that can treat them, claims a leading East Midlands lawyers practice.

Solicitor Paul Tubb, of Leicestershire based Mander Cruickshank has called for more mental health teams to be introduced into prisons and the Government to urgently investigate high reoffending rates amongst the mentally ill.

Mr Tubb, a lawyer specializing in crime, called for the changes following a new report by the Centre for Mental Health, which shows around 90 per cent of prisoners suffer from mental health problems and almost a half of the offenders are reconvicted within a year after being released from prison.

Mr Tubb, whose firm are one of the oldest in the East Midlands and have branches in Coalville and Hinckley said: "This report shows that the appropriate medical care is rarely available, whether in prison or in the community."

"There needs to be more resources diverted towards rehabilitation. An estimated 43 per cent of offenders are back behind bars within a year and 74 per cent within nine years. If they were dealt with correctly it would mean less of a strain on the criminal justice system and ultimately, in the long run, a cheaper and more efficient legal system."

However, Mr Tubb said he feared the Government would not act on the report.

"To implement these changes it will require money in the short term," he said. "In these austere times I fear this is unlikely. "However, this really is a case where spending money now will save an awful lot of money in the long run. I'm sure I speak on behalf of many solicitors who have seen at first hand the wretched state of mind of some of these people, that it can only benefit us as a nation if we help these vulnerable people in these challenging times."

The report also showed mentally ill prisoners are up to 36 times more likely to commit suicide.

Following the publishing of the report a Department of Health spokesperson said: 'This Government remains committed to improving health and social care outcomes for all people in contact with the criminal justice system. That's why we are investing £5.1m this year in liaison and diversion services, which intervene at an early stage to identify and assess those with mental health or substance misuse problems and help them into treatment where appropriate."