HASC: Inquiry into Policing and Mental Health

The Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) announced an inquiry into policing and mental health. The HASC invited responses from those with experience in the front-line delivery of mental health care and policing and were particularly interested in hearing about:

• What groups might have particular mental health needs when they come into contact with the police? For example, people with autism or Asperger's syndrome
• What impact does the policing of individuals with mental health problems have on front-line police resources?
• What examples of best practice are there in effective working between the agencies responsible for mental health? And what have been the results for those who suffer mental health problems, the police and health care providers?
• How have local initiatives, including the street triage pilots, improved effective working between mental health nurses and the police?
• What improvements could be made to the training and guidance available to police staff that regularly come into contact those with mental health problems?
• What more could be done to reduce the number of people who die or suffer serious injury during and immediately following police custody?
• Should s136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 be reformed? And if so, how?

PCC's Response

The PCC's response to the consultation can be viewed here.