ACPO comment on Mind research into emergency mental health care provision

ACPO lead on mental health Chief Constable Simon Cole said:

“Many police officers and staff deal daily with people experiencing crisis and will recognise the issues this report describes. Research suggests that at least 15% of police time is spent on people with mental health problems; that may be missing people, offenders, those detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act or police-led suicide prevention interventions. Anything that can be done to ensure that those in need can access health care services when they are in crisis, in a timely fashion on a 24/7 basis, can only improve the quality of service that people in need receive, and reduce the burden falling on the police service.”

Mind research- http://www.mind.org.uk/news/show/7858_mental_health_crisis_care_services_under-resourced_understaffed_and_overstretched

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk