One in four Londoners live with mental health issues. Police interaction with them as victims, suspects, witnesses or members of the public, should be handled sensitively.
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee recently examined the ways in which the Met supports its officers to respond to people with mental health needs.
The committee has written to the Mayor with recommendations to ensure that mental health needs are dealt with appropriately. The recommendations include:
- Every officer is well trained to identify and attend to mental health needs
- Every officer can promptly refer people to appropriate mental health services
- There is effective monitoring of the impact of the Met’s response to mental health
Steve O’Connell AM, Chairman of the Police and Crime Committee, said: “Mental ill health affects everyone in our city one way or another.
“It’s important for the police service to be equipped to deal with mental health needs sensitively.
“While we recognise the progress the Met has made in this area, our recommendations aim to avoid the mistreatment of vulnerable Londoners and if taken on board by the Mayor and the Met, will strengthen the Met’s response to mental health needs.
“We publish this letter on ‘Time to Talk Day’ because every Londoner deserves to be safe and every Londoner deserves to be treated fairly and appropriately by their police service.”