Campaigners denounced the use of jail cells as mental health facilities as “totally unacceptable” yesterday, after an official report revealed children and vulnerable people were being locked up for up to 40 hours.

An investigation lead by the Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found out that police custody has been used as an alternative to health and social care.

Disabled People Against Cuts co-founder Linda Burnip told the Star that the report proved “how inadequate services for both adults and children with a mental health condition are.”

She added: “It is totally unacceptable that either adults or children who need proper care from qualified medical professionals or who need support from social services are instead ending up in prison cells.

“It is scandalous that a Tory-led coalition has allowed necessary services to be slashed in this way leading to what is a very obvious crisis.”

The cases uncovered by the HMIC ranged from a 90-year-old dementia sufferer being held in police custody for a night, to “degrading” and “unnecessary” strip-searches of arrested teenage girls.

The report also recounted how a young man was arrested after assaulting his father during a schizophrenic episode and was made to spend 40 hours in police custody.

He was eventually taken to A&E due to concerns over his health and safety.

Data collected by the HMIC also suggested that the Afro-Caribbean community is disproportionately affected by detentions and strip-searches.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Dru Sharpling admitted that “the bricks and mortar of the police cells do not and cannot make [a distinction between vulnerable people and serial offenders.]

“I am particularly concerned to find that on occasions when officers were left with no other option, they resorted to detaining vulnerable people in police custody in order to get them the support they needed.”

Unable to hide yet another public scandal, the Home Office was quick to reply to the report.

Home Secretary Theresa May said she had “always been clear that the use of force must be lawful, proportionate and necessary in all the circumstances.

“We will review HMIC’s findings and recommendations carefully to see how they can inform this work, and respond in due course.”