Ministers tell police to respond to fewer mental health-related 999 calls
by Robert Booth from on (#6D99P)
Plan aims to free up estimated million hours a year of police time but experts have raised concerns
Ministers have told police forces to rapidly cut the number of mental health-related 999 calls they respond to in order to free up an estimated million hours a year of police time, in a move that mental health experts fear could be dangerous.
Announcing a new national strategy for the police's role in mental health emergencies, Chris Philp, the policing minister, said forces should still attend calls involving mental health issues whenever there is a risk to public safety and if there is a crime.
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