Recent reports have highlighted the continuing lack of adequate provision for the difficult or offender patient. The move to community care, coupled with the closing of the larger institutions, has put a strain on traditional forensic services. They are being increasingly asked to deal with the difficult, nonoffender (Glancy) patient in addition to their more traditional offender-type (Butler) patient. This paper describes how one unit has developed to serve the needs of Rotherham and neighbouring health authorities. We do this by illustrating the current lack of provision and by describing the types of patient treated over a two year period.