A BILL governing the use of force against patients in mental health units moved a step closer to becoming law today after it was supported unopposed by MPs.

Tears and applause greeted the approval of mental health reforms known as “Seni’s law” in memory of the man whose death inspired them.

Olaseni Lewis, known as Seni to friends and family, died aged 23 in September 2010, just three days after he was restrained by 11 Metropolitan Police officers at Bethlem Royal Hospital in south-east London.

An inquest last year found that the “excessive force, pain compliance techniques and multiple mechanical restraints” Mr Lewis was subjected to were “disproportionate and unreasonable,” and that, “on the balance of probability, this contributed to the cause of death.”

However, six officers were cleared of any wrongdoing over his death in a secret misconduct hearing last October.

Mr Lewis’s parents Aji and Conrad were in the House of Commons as the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill received an unopposed third reading and were joined by Marcia Rigg, whose son Sean died in similar circumstances in Brixton in 2008.

The Bill requires police to wear body cameras while carrying out restraint unless there are legitimate operational reasons for not doing so, and would also mean any non-natural deaths in a mental health unit would automatically trigger an independent investigation.

Tory MP Philip Davies was accused by Ms Lewis of being “cruel” after he spoke for 148 minutes to filibuster the Bill three weeks ago, meaning today was the last chance for the proposed law to be passed.

Croydon North Labour MP Steve Reed, who brought forward the Bill for the Lewis family, who are his constituents, said: “Although this Bill is called Seni’s law in honour of Seni, it’s affected many, many people beyond Seni who have lost their lives or been injured simply because they were unwell.

“The purpose of this Bill is to make sure this can’t happen again.”

Mr Lewis said: “I bear a burden I’ll have to carry for the rest of my life.

“It’s a burden I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy and I don’t want any other parent to have to carry that burden.”

The Bill, which has government support, will now proceed to the House of Lords.