Worth it
I have just come across a case where a man with what the police officer in disclosure at the police station called "a serious mental disorder" was arrested at what the officer described as a "care home for the mentally ill" after the man had smashed a window and caused a disturbance. At the police station, the care home manager indicated that she was happy for this man to return as this was his first violent outburst in 10-years of being in their care. I don't for a moment seek to criticise the police for the arrest as that removed him from the situation and gave everybody a chance to calm down. He was interviewed by the police and I can tell you that the advice given was to "put forward [his] version. Client is guilty - admits he did break window." He then went into interview and made a full confession. For some reason, instead of cautioning or taking no further action in a case where a conviction will clearly serve no purpose a CPS lawyer ...