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Mental health nurses to work with police
Mental health nurses will be based in Avon and Somerset’s police control room as part of a new initiative designed to help people experiencing mental health crisis.
Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens has also announced that, as of next month, police custody will only be used to detain people experiencing mental health crisis in exceptional circumstances.
Ms Mountstevens said: “I remain a passionate believer that police custody is the wrong place for detaining people who are mentally ill. It is absolutely inappropriate that we detain people who have committed no crime, who are distressed and need specialist care.
is needed now More than ever
“With initiatives such as mental health nurses in the control room advising officers and staff on supporting people in mental health crisis and mental health street triage schemes such as the one in Bristol we can get there, but there is still much more we can do.
“As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, it is vitally important we take this opportunity to encourage people to speak out about mental health and raise awareness of this illness that affects so many.”
The PCC is also using the national awareness week to highlight the importance of ‘Appropriate Adults’ in supporting vulnerable individuals in custody. Appropriate adults safeguard the welfare and rights of children and vulnerable adults detained or interviewed by the police.
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