Our website features information about the work of The Zito Trust, including our latest reports.

8 May 2008: More detailed information about the book described below is available from the publishers here . This includes an order form.

16 April 2008: Two important new books on mental health are published this month by Radcliffe Publishing in Oxford. Mental Health Services Today and Tomorrow (Parts 1 and 2) are edited by Charles Kaye (mental health consultant) and Michael Howlett (Director of The Zito Trust). Part 1 focuses on the experience of providing and receiving care in the rapidly changing world of mental health service organisation. Part 2 explores policy from a national and international perspective, and includes chapters on the social and economic impact of mental health, services for children and adolescents, race and racism in mental health services and the challenges now facing an ever-expanding European community. For further details about the books click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.

Both books can be ordered directly from the Publishers or from Amazon

16 March 2008: The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has recently published its good practice guidance on the handling of independent investigations into 'serious patient safety incidents' involving mental health services, includinmg homicide. The Zito Trust is cited as one of the principal contributors to this important document. To see the NPSA press release, click here (28 kB). To see the Guidance in full, click here (480 kB)

3 March 2008: NHS London has announced that it will set up three different types of independent inquiry into the 26 homicide cases currently under review in London. These homicides were committed in London between 2002 and 2006 and were only reviewed internally by the NHS mental health trusts responsible for the care of the offender, contrary to NHS Guidance. An example is the case of Ismail Dogan who killed Ernest Meads and stabbed five other people in north London in December 2004. The independent inquiry into this case is just about to start.

The Zito Trust is advising four of the victims. Click here for further information about NHS London's review.

Here is NHS London's report in full (1.4 MB)

'The most important event in the history of modern British mental health services occurred on the platform of Finsbury Park tube ... station where, on the afternoon of 17 December 1992, Christopher Clunis killed Jonathan Zito.'

This is the dramatic opening to a critically important new book called Treating Violence: a Guide to Risk Management in Mental Health, published by Oxford University Press (January 2007). The author, Anthony Maden, is Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at Imperial College London and Clinical Director of the DSPD Programme at Broadmoor Hospital. He is well known for his trenchant views on mental health service provision and this book pulls no punches. Written in a direct and accessible style, the book is a breath of fresh air rising from the Stygian swamps of recent debate and should be essential reading for everyone working in mental health services, for politicians and peers with responsibility for the development of mental health policy and law, and for constituent members of the Mental Health Alliance whose current opposition to many of the Government's proposals for reform are not only wrong but dangerous. While the emphasis of the book has a clear focus on the crucial area of violence risk assessment, Tony Maden has much to say on other pressing and topical matters, such as why any capacity-based approach to community treatment orders would not work in practice. He has a great deal to say (much of it uncomfortable) about the responsibility of services, and individual professionals, towards patients and the general public. There are a considerable number of surprises too, and a disarming and unapologetic style (see, for example, the section 'I blame RD Laing' on page 160). We thoroughly recommend this book to the widest possible readership but, in the words of Louis Appleby in his Foreword, readers 'should pour a stiff drink first.'

Justice for William was published by Waterside Press on 9 January 2007. This powerful book, with a Foreword by Terry Waite, is Wendy Crompton's hard-hitting account of her search for justice following the death of her son William Crompton who was killed with his girlfriend in 1996. Written by Helen Simpson, Justice for William describes Wendy's contact over the past 11 years with a wide range of agencies and professionals and her determination, as yet unfulfilled, to expose and render accountable those who were responsible for her son's death. The book has direct relevance to the plight of all secondary victims of homicide, particularly in cases involving mental health services. The book should be read by everyone working in the field of mental health, criminal justice and victim support. For further information go to www.watersidepress.co.uk or to buy a copy of the book (£12) call the order line on 01962 855567.

The National Confidential Inquiry Report into suicide and homicide was published on Monday 4 December 2006. It is called 'Avoidable Deaths' and states that 400 homicides have been committed in the past eight years by people in contact with mental health services: one every week. Many of these homicides could have been prevented had community treatment orders been available. Read the Report and media coverage here.

The National Audit Office Tsunami Report has been published. Read the report and some of the press coverage in our Tsunami Review section.

The critical report into the care and treatment of John Barrett, who killed Denis Finnegan in 2004, was published by NHS London at a press conference held on 16 November. See the report and media coverage.

The Healthcare Commission has published its critical review of community mental health services. A BBC News Online report and the Healthcare Commission's detailed press release are available here.

The Michael Stone Inquiry Report has been published. See the report, and The Zito Trust Commentary in The Times and associated correspondence here.

The Zahid Mubarek Inquiry Report has been published. Click here for both volumes and The Zito Trust's submission to it.

The Zito Trust is a registered mental health charity with a primary focus on supporting and advising victims of mentally disordered offenders and highlighting gaps and failures in service provision.

The Zito Trust was established in 1994, following the publication of the independent inquiry report into the care and treatment of Christopher Clunis, who killed Jonathan Zito, while suffering from schizophrenia.

Christopher Clunis is among the one in one hundred people in the UK who will at some time in their lives suffer from schizophrenia, which is the most chronic and disabling of the major mental illnesses.

Thanks to Dave Sheppard Associates (DSA) we are now able to include monthly summaries of inquiries, reviews and news reproduced from DSA's e-Bulletin. Go to our Press Office section to read these summaries. For more information about membership of DSA go to their website.