BPS response to Metropolitan Police decision to stop attending 999 calls linked to mental health incidents
Dr Roman Raczka says more time and resources are needed if the Met police are to implement their plans in a safe and effective way.
31 May 2023
The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has said that from September, the force's police officers will not attend 999 calls about mental health incidents, unless a threat to life is feared.
Mental health trusts in London are expected to have plans to support this plan in place by 31 August 2023.
Dr Roman Raczka, BPS president-elect and chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology, said:
"This is an extremely concerning decision at a time when mental health services are already stretched beyond capacity and under resourced after years of chronic underfunding.
"We know that for many people in mental health crisis, the police environment and the potential for them to be criminalised isn't conducive to their immediate wellbeing.
"However, while it is positive that people in mental health crisis will be supported by trained mental health practitioners, it's vital that mental health trusts receive adequate funding to do this, and that realistic and achievable timeframes are in place to resource and safely deliver this plan.
"Clearly the Met Police are not the right people to deal with mental health crises - but having sufficient trained mental health practitioners to provide this support will take time.
"We urge the commissioner to follow the example set by Humberside Police's Right Care, Right Person scheme, which was planned and implemented over two years, to make sure the right and effective support for people needing urgent help is in place."