Metropolitan Police to stop attending 999 calls linked to mental health incidents

The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will no longer attend 999 calls linked to mental health incidents unless there is a threat to life. The move, which will come into effect in September, is part of a wider effort to improve the way the police respond to mental health crises.

The police say that the current system is not working well. They say that officers are often called to mental health incidents when they are not the best people to deal with the situation. They also say that the calls can take up a lot of police time, which could be better spent on other crimes.

The new system will see the police hand over responsibility for mental health incidents to specially trained mental health professionals. These professionals will be able to assess the situation and provide the appropriate support.

The move has been welcomed by mental health charities. They say that it is a positive step that will help to improve the way people with mental health problems are treated.

However, some critics have raised concerns about the new system. They say that it could lead to people with mental health problems being left without the support they need. They also say that it could make it more difficult for people to get help if they are in crisis.

The police say that they will work closely with mental health professionals to ensure that the new system is effective. They say that they are committed to providing the best possible support to people with mental health problems.

The new system is being rolled out in London first. It will then be rolled out to other parts of the country.

Quotes from key people:

Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police: “We are committed to providing the best possible support to people with mental health problems. The new system will allow us to do this by ensuring that people are assessed by the right people, at the right time, in the right place.”
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind: “This is a positive step that will help to improve the way people with mental health problems are treated. We welcome the fact that the police are recognizing that they are not always the best people to deal with mental health crises. We hope that this will lead to a more coordinated and effective approach to supporting people with mental health problems.”
Dr. David Hare, Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of the National Institute of Mental Health in England: “This is a welcome move that will help to ensure that people with mental health problems get the support they need. The police are not always the best people to deal with mental health crises. By handing over responsibility to specially trained mental health professionals, we can ensure that people receive the care they need.”

Analysis:

The Metropolitan Police’s decision to stop attending 999 calls linked to mental health incidents is a significant development. It is a recognition that the police are not always the best people to deal with mental health crises. The new system will see the police hand over responsibility to specially trained mental health professionals. This is a positive step that will help to improve the way people with mental health problems are treated.

However, there are some concerns about the new system. Some critics have raised concerns that it could lead to people with mental health problems being left without the support they need. They also say that it could make it more difficult for people to get help if they are in crisis. The police say that they will work closely with mental health professionals to ensure that the new system is effective. They say that they are committed to providing the best possible support to people with mental health problems.

The new system is being rolled out in London first. It will then be rolled out to other parts of the country. It will be interesting to see how the new system works in practice. If it is successful, it could be rolled out to other countries.