Posted January 24, 200818 yr The family of Amy Winehouse have been told she cannot be sectioned under the Mental Health Act because she is "not a danger to herself". Her father Mitch Winehouse said he had considered the dramatic course of action as a last-ditch bid to help the wayward star. But speaking to Vanessa Feltz on radio station BBC London 94.9, he said: "Obviously this is something that we have looked at. What you have got to understand is that Amy is nowhere near being in a position to be sectioned. She really has to be a danger to herself. PressAssociation
January 24, 200818 yr Last Updated: Thursday, 24 January 2008, 18:08 GMT Father wants Winehouse sectioned BBC News Amy Winehouse's father has admitted he asked for his daughter to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act to help her stop taking drugs. But he said on radio station BBC London 94.9 that he had been told she could not be sectioned because she was not at risk of hurting herself. "You might consider taking drugs is a danger to herself, but unfortunately the authorities don't," he said. Film of the singer apparently smoking a crack pipe emerged earlier this week. Mr Winehouse described the video as "horrible". He also told host Vanessa Feltz that, while his daughter had taken small steps towards recovery with visits to counsellors and private doctors, she was in denial about her condition. "Part of the problem is she doesn't think she's got a problem. She thinks she can do what she does recreationally and get on with the rest of her life," he said. "The moment she says she wants to go into a facility, within half an hour she will be in a facility. But unless she wants to do it of her own accord, it's pointless." "You can't lock the key and say, 'you can't come out before you're better'. That's called abduction," he added. Winehouse is still planning to perform at the Grammys in Los Angeles next month - but will need to get a visa before travelling to the US. However, her arrest and fine last year in Norway for possession of cannabis could cause problems. Mr Winehouse said: "Because she has a drugs conviction, at this moment in time she can't go into the States. "We are working to rectify that and it will be rectified within the next week or so. We are working on it to be able to go to the Grammys."
