Response to HMICFRS Policing and Mental Health report 'Picking up the Pieces'
Chief Inspector Michael Brown from the College of Policing, the professional body for police, said:
“Police will always have a role in responding to mental health incidents where the public requires assistance.
“Today’s report reflects the reality of the demand forces now face, and the work officers now take on outside of a policing responsibility.
“Any review into the delivery of mental health services should take account of what police are here to do and their specific role in protecting the public.
“Officers have guidance and training from the College of Policing for responding to incidents involving mental health, but this should not be seen as the specialist care that some people require.
“All too often members of the public suffering mental ill-health need a response from relevant health professionals not the police.”
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Notes to editors
- The Mental Health APP is kept under constant review and is updated in accordance with legal developments, lessons learned from Coroner’s inquests and other policy developments. For example, it will be updated again during 2019 to reflect new guidance on the prosecution of mentally disordered offenders.
- Mental Health learning standards have been developed by the College of Policing and this training is delivered locally by forces.
- Recommendations from the report for the College of Policing:
- A definition of mental ill-health has already been developed and the College of Policing are consulting within the service on it, alongside developing its application in practice.
- Work will begin on an assessment framework to help forces benchmark their triage activity early next year.
- Recommendations from the report for the College of Policing: