WGPlus (Archive)
Does this help explain why they are too busy to ‘solve’ minor crimes? |
Police officers are increasingly being used as the service of default in responding to people with mental health problems, a report by HMICFRS has confirmed. The report, ‘Policing & Mental Health: Picking Up the Pieces’, makes it clear that whilst the police service is doing a good job in difficult circumstances, there are concerns over whether the police should be involved in responding to mental health problems at the current level. The report emphasises that there needs to be a radical rethink and a longer-term solution to what has become a national crisis. HMICFRS commissioned a survey to understand better the public’s view of the role of the police service in helping people with mental health problems. The findings included:
The police service is stepping in to fill shortfalls in the health service. This includes:
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Researched Links: |
HMICFRS: Police cannot fix a broken mental health system ScotGov: Support for young people in custody Home Office hosts roundtable on mental health demand on policing They are already ‘in a bad place’ even before being ‘banged-up’ in a cell Not every ‘illness’ has ‘visible’ symptoms Funding boost for vulnerable female offenders in the community LGA responds to Theresa May's announcement on mental health & suicide New rules restricting the use of police cells as places of safety come into effect |