MentalHealthCop
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Street Triage
One thing arising from the Home Secretary’s speech this week to the Police Federation conference was the idea of “street triage”. In short, this means a system whereby better health or mental health support is made quickly or immediately available to police officers who are often paired up with health professionals. Now there are various … Continue reading
Ambulance Drivers
My colleagues in green seem a bit upset and not for the first time; my Twitter notifications are full of indignation and frustration. The Home Secretary delivered her annual speech to the Police Federation Conference earlier today and spoke for longer than ever before on policing and mental health issues – this in itself is … Continue reading
My Reaction To Adebowale
I thought myself very privileged to have been on the list of people to receive an embargoed copy of the Adebowale Report on Friday morning, two hours before the world saw it. Although I was due to be at work on an EARLY shift, I had made mental arrangements to prioritise reading it amidst my … Continue reading
The Adebowale Report
Today a report was published by Lord Adebowale, the Chief Executive of Turning Point, into the handling of mental ill health incidents by the Metropolitan Police. The Commission he headed was set up by the Commissioner, Sir Bernard HOGAN-HOWE, to examine how they could better police incidents connected to mental illness. In particular, it was set up … Continue reading
Colin Holt
The criminal trial of PC Maurice LEIGH and PC Neil BOWDERY was brought to an end today when the officers were cleared by a jury of wilful neglect. Various questions remain about the incident which led to Mr HOLT’s death and to the events which preceded it – I certainly have loads. This is not the first trial … Continue reading
Police Mental Health
I am aware that several forces are reviewing, revising or writing afresh their internal policies on mental ill-health for staff. Policies about a force’s duty of care towards their police officers and employees. There are various reasons why this is very, very necessary and arguably overdue. Like any organisation, the police service will have staff … Continue reading
Restraint
There is, in my professional experience, a very distinct difference between restraining burglars or street robbers who have been arrested for offences and restraining patients who have been detained or re-detained under the Mental Health Act. The concepts of resistance or aggression may be similar; the instinct of a police officer to contain the risks … Continue reading
April Newsletter
There is a lot going on this month, in the NHS and in the news, affecting mental health issues and the overlap with criminal justice. A whistle-stop tour follows! – NHS CHANGES This month there is a lot of business commencing that will change the way the mental health care is given – so a … Continue reading
Diminshed Responsibility
“Diminished responsibility” is a partial defence in law, to charges of murder. It is therefore something for the defence to raise, not for the prosecution to prove; and for it to be established, it must be shown on the balance of probabilities that the defendant “was suffering from such abnormality of mind (whether arising from … Continue reading
Declining Medical Treatment
Does is get more ethically complicated than wondering how you ensure you’ve discharged a duty of care if a person you have arrested or detained is busy declining the offer of medical treatment which doctors are saying is very, very necessary to ensure health and wellbeing? It is especially difficult where someone has mental health … Continue reading
