The Met has set a deadline of August 31 for implementation of the prohibition. Image source: GETTY IMAGES
In an effort to free up officer resources, the Met Police will stop responding to emergency calls about situations involving mental health starting in September.
According to a statement made by the Metropolitan Police in London, they will only react to 999 emergency calls regarding mental health if there is a “immediate threat to life.
” According to The Guardian, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley informed health and social care services of this decision in a letter.
The head of the mental health organization Mind, however, has voiced serious reservations about this strategy.
It should be highlighted that during the past five years, police departments in Great Britain have seen a noticeable rise in the number of cases affecting mental health.
Numerous police chiefs think that the rise in the number of mental health incidents handled by the police is due to their perception as the first line of defense in emergencies and a dearth of community resources to deal with the expanding needs of mental health.
The Metropolitan Police seeks to alleviate the unfair burden placed on police personnel in providing mental health support, as first reported by The Guardian.
They aim to balance this obligation with those of other pertinent organizations engaged in the delivery of healthcare.
However, Sarah Hughes from Mind has issued a warning that other public services do not now have the capacity to take over the work that police officers currently perform in instances involving mental health.
Sarah Hughes voiced her concerns about the ability of the current system to support a shift toward the novel strategy put forth by the Metropolitan Police during an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
She emphasized that a lot more effort needs to be done before various systemic elements can work together successfully to serve people in need.
Hughes stressed the urgent need for the National Health Service (NHS) and the Metropolitan Police to collaborate and create a comprehensive plan to address these serious concerns brought up by diverse stakeholders.
The wellbeing of those dealing with mental health difficulties depends on this teamwork.
Mind has drawn attention to the ongoing problem of persistent underfunding in mental health services and emphasized the importance of careful and group decision-making in order to guarantee that no person is left without the required assistance during any suggested adjustments.
A mental health incident, as defined by the College of Policing, is any police event that is thought to be related to someone’s mental health, with that person’s vulnerability playing a key role in the circumstance.
Police personnel are thought to spend 20% to 40% of their time dealing with such occurrences, demonstrating the high demand for law enforcement resources.
The Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) program, which attempts to involve mental health experts in addressing mental health calls, has already been adopted by Humberside Police.
The rising need for mental health support has prompted the adoption of this strategy.
The RCRP program has improved outcomes, decreased demand for different services, and ensured that the right treatment is given by the right people, according to a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police.
The representative further stressed that, despite their expertise and compassion, police personnel do not have the specialized training needed to provide mental health care.
In addition, police officers often spend roughly 10 hours per patient who is under the Mental Health Act’s provision.
According to a representative for the Metropolitan Police, police must wait for lengthy periods of time to transfer patients to qualified medical personnel 500 to 600 times per month in London alone.
The spokesperson made it clear that this scenario cannot continue and that it must be changed.
The discussions about the difficulties facing mental health services and the substantial amount of time frontline police officers spend caring for people in distress were undertaken with leaders in the police and medical fields.
Frontline police officers are reluctant to use their authority in mental health cases because it diverts them from their primary task of responding to emergency 999 calls, which reduces their availability on the streets, a police officer who wished to remain anonymous said.
The police officer highlighted that under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, police officers are authorized to detain individuals and take them to a place of safety.
However, complications arise when there are no available healthcare professionals to assess them at the hospital, leaving the officers in a difficult position where they cannot simply abandon the individuals in need of care.
In an effort to address the challenges faced by mental health services, the government announced a £150 million capital investment in January.
This funding is intended to enhance the facilities and spaces within the NHS to better support individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis.
The investment aims to improve access to appropriate care and provide better outcomes for those in need.
The government has claimed that the cash will enable the purchase of about 90 new mental health ambulances as part of the £150 million capital expenditure.
Using these customized vehicles, mental health specialists will be able to approach patients who are in need directly, offering assistance on the spot or enabling their transfer to the most appropriate care institution.
This effort aims to improve the treatment and reaction given to people going through mental health emergencies, making sure they get the right help in a timely manner.