image source, Dan Kitwood
Right Care Right person aims to tackle the issue of how much time police officers spend policing mental health
The Metropolitan Police is to reduce the number of mental health calls its officers attend in London as part of its work with the NHS.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says police officers will not be present if help from a medical professional would be more appropriate.
NHS London added that it will continue to take part in calls where there is a risk of serious harm to people.
The model was first introduced by Humberside Police and has been “hugely successful in reducing demand on all services, freeing up 7% of officers’ time”, the Metropolitan Transport Authority said.
Starting in November, police officers will no longer be present at health checkups for people who have missed an appointment or are not taking their medication.
Police will also no longer search people discharged from mental health facilities or hospitals unless there is reason to become involved.
A new 24/7 helpline has been set up that police officers can call before detaining someone under section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
According to the Metropolitan District, police officers spend an average of 14.2 hours with patients in hospitals when they are separated.
In March 2023, the force spent 10,000 hours sorting patients and received more than 78,000 mental health-related calls and approximately 204,000 welfare concern calls from 2021 to 2022. Ta.
Martin McRae, executive director of performance at NHS London, said: “Police will start to attend fewer mental health calls from now on, but they will continue to attend fewer calls where welfare checks are required or people in a dangerous condition fleeing hospital. “Police will continue to attend if this occurs.”
“With mental health referrals in London’s NHS up by two-fifths compared to before the pandemic, it is vital that we roll out this approach in stages.”
Saab Bajwa, chief executive of the British Psychological Society, welcomed the “phased approach” and said the partnership was “a positive step towards ensuring people facing a mental health crisis get the support they need. ”.
Dr Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, said the charity was “very concerned about the pace of these changes” and asked for “assurances about how they will be introduced safely”. .
