[arista]

[The Met Police's plan to stop
attending emergency mental health i
ncidents is "potentially alarming",
a former inspector of constabulary
has said.

From September, officers will only attend
mental health 999 calls where there
is an "immediate threat to life".
Zoe Billingham, who was previously
Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary
and Fire and Rescue,
said the proposals could create a "vacuum".
The Royal College of Psychiatrists' president
called the move "unhelpful".
The Met argues the move will free up officers
after a significant rise in the number
of mental health incidents being dealt
with by the force in the past five years.

Some police chiefs believe this is down
to the service increasingly being seen
as the first resort for people in a crisis,
as well as a lack of capacity in the NHS
and social services to deal with
growing mental health demands.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner
Sir Mark Rowley wrote to health
and social care services in
Greater London to inform them
of the plan last week,
the Guardian first reported.

In the letter, which has been seen by
the BBC, Sir Mark said it takes almost
23 hours on average from the point at
which someone is detained under
the Mental Health Act until they are
handed into medical care.]


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65741824




This has to happen.