Contact your Parish Council
Ann Barnes
Your Kent Police
and Crime Commissioner
Friday 17 May 2013
Blog Post
(https://kent-pcc.gov.uk/index.php?entry_id=1374228049)
It’s mental health awareness week and the
national campaign focuses on physical activity and exercise.
Mental health is often seen as a ‘taboo’ subject but it plays a really
important part in policing. What do our officers do when faced with someone who
has learning disabilities or mental health illnesses? Well you would think it
would be quite straight forward and the individual would be quickly be referred
and given the right care but an array of factors will decide the outcome.
That’s why I’m really quite interested in work of the Prison Reform Trust, an
independent charity that’s running the ‘care not custody’ promise. The idea is
that those with mental health issues are not just put into a custody cell but
are diverted to the right treatment provider. The Government has committed
millions to the scheme but there is still a long way to go before every custody
suite operates in this manner.
Personally, it’s a sad state of our society if we do not protect those who are
vulnerable. Commissioners nationally are looking at how they can support the
‘Care not Custody’ promise and this is certainly on my radar. Back in my Police
Authority days we made some progress with referrals and from 1st April 2011 to
31st March 2012 there were around 2,000 people who were signposted to providers
who could help with depression, dementia, personality disorders and learning
disabilities to name but a few.
It’s important the public receives the right help and care and it is just as
important that our police officers in Kent are given the right training to deal
with difficult situations.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary estimates that two per cent of
police time is spent dealing with mental health issues but a survey by the
Police and Crime Commissioner in Staffordshire estimated it was nearer 15 to 25
per cent. So what do we need to do… Well tighten up our work with partners
firstly to ensure that the right mental health facilities are in place. Our
officers should not be stepping in to act as ambulance drivers for the NHS and
they are not psychologists or counsellors. Ultimately it does come down to
funding but I do have some hope as the Home Secretary raised mental health
issues and the impact on the police during her speech on Wednesday at the
Police Federation Conference.
It’s so important that steps are put in place to allow police officers to do
their jobs and to ensure the right support is given to our vulnerable people in
our society.
I will be actively playing a role here in Kent to ensure this happens and
watching the national scene with interest.
For more information on mental health visit -
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/mentalhealthawarenessweek/