Publish date: 28 October 2025
Mersey Care’s partners in Merseyside Police have been formally commended for their work. PCs Louise Fielding and Matt Brown are embedded in Secure Care Division, in highly visible positions to support staff following incidents of inappropriate or criminal behaviour on the wards.
Matt and Louise have a close relationship with ward staff, good backing from the RCs and are visible to patients. This improves trust and confidence in a system where, historically, responding to such behaviour inside locations where people were already detained for long periods was challenging.
Secure Division’s Director of Security Michele Anderton said: “We’re proud to continue our close partnership with Merseyside Police. Their presence directly supports rehabilitation and recovery in a safe well managed environment. By upholding the values and rules of society, and ensuring that offending behaviour is addressed appropriately, their work exemplifies our zero-tolerance approach to violence and aggression. Officers Louise and Matt have been invaluable in supporting our staff, patients and visitors.”
The officers’ work helps to support staff and patient safety. Patients can be prosecuted, as in the community, which will often result in a fine being issued at Court, amongst other outcomes. They have found that prosecution can help to instil boundaries or act as a deterrent for patients who cause continuous or serious problems within our secure facilities in Maghull.
The team and their predecessors have worked in Ashworth and the other secure hospitals for about 15 years. Between them Matt and Louise have worked at least 1000 offences. The work done by the two Officers internally also saves beat officers, who are often unfamiliar with secure environments, having to come into our settings.
Presenting them with certificates of commendation, their Chief Superintendent said: “The team represent Merseyside Police to the highest standard and are leaders within their role. They’ve formed a strong partnership with Mersey Care, CPS and the Courts, ensuring processes are always improving and the criminal justice process is used fully, and positive results are achieved.”
Mark Latham, Secure Care’s Divisional Director, also thanked them for their work. Mark told us: “The close integrated working relationship that has developed over several years with our Police colleagues has added an important level of assurance for our staff, this supports both staffs and patient experience for the better.’’
Louise and Matt are part of a team which also has links into other Trust divisions and their colleagues in Lancashire Police support some of our other sites.
