Federation chair calls for mental health review

11 December 2019

Calls for a national review on the country’s ‘growing mental health crisis’ have been welcomed by West Midlands Police Federation.

John Apter, the national Federation chair, has called for the review after an Institute for Government Performance Tracker 2019 survey found the number of mental health incidents involving police officers rose from 385,206 to 494,159 between 2014 and 2018, a rise of 28 per cent. It also showed there was a 13 per cent increase in the number of people taken to a place of safety by officers under the Mental Health Act.

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott has welcomed the call for the review, saying: “Police officers regularly fill in for shortfalls in the mental health support system, even when we are perhaps not the most appropriate service.

“Police officers are there to help and will never turn their backs on someone in crisis but there needs to be more investment in the mental health support system so we have qualified health professionals to give proper assistance to those who need it.”

In calling for the review, John Apter said the country was in the grip of a growing mental health crisis with police officers at the forefront of trying to protect and support vulnerable people.

“These figures show we have reached beyond tipping point, and we would welcome a wider public investigation into these important issues,” he explained, “Most people think a police officer’s time is used in dealing solely with crime. However, about 80 per cent is spent dealing with non-crime related incidents involving mental health situations.

“These situations are extremely complex and often involve individuals in such a state of despair they may wish to end their own lives or hurt other people. I personally know from 27 years of service as a police officer just how emotionally distressing these situations are for my colleagues.

“We urgently need a fresh investigation into this growing issue, where the emphasis must be on providing the best medical option for those in desperate need.”