Opinion: CCTV of a mentally ill man being sprayed with capsicum spray, pinned to the ground by six police officers and hit with a baton in Melbourne quickly went viral, appalling many including Dr Isabelle Bartkowiak-Théron of the Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies who works closely with the Australian police. She asks what can we learn from this.
Interview: Four years ago, Matthew Ellis, Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, commissioned a report that would redefine the police service's entire approach to those with mental health problems. Now, just as legislation comes into force banning the use of police cells as a place of safety for under 18s and restricting their use for adults detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mr Ellis says there remains unresolved issues and it's time to revisit the debate.
OPINION: The Angiolini Review examining deaths and serious incident in police custody was published this week. Police Inspector Michael Brown, author of Mental Health Cop Blog, explores the issues raised by the report.
Opinion: In 2014, Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis first commissioned a report into incidents police attended that involved someone with a mental illness. Three years on and Staffordshire has made considerable strides in reducing the number of those suffering mental ill health in custody, but there is still much to be done.
Analysis: Body worn cameras are becoming the new normal in policing, but when it comes to attending incidents involving those with mental health problems, officers need to be aware of the challenges. Police Inspector Michael Brown, author of Mental Health Cop Blog, explores the issues.
PCC INTERVIEW: A third of police time in Kent is spent dealing with mental health issues, a pattern replicated across the country. Kent PCC Matthew Scott is the deputy portfolio lead on mental health for the national Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC). He speaks to Syreeta Lund about some of the challenges.
OPINION: Katie Kempen, Chief Executive of the Independent Custody Visitors' Association, looks at mental health issues in custody and how the ICVA can help to protect those in mental health crisis who find themselves in custody.
OPINION: Police officers are increasingly asked by other agencies to undertake 'welfare checks' on people in mental health crisis. Serving officer 'Nathan Constable' argues that not only do the police have no powers to intervene in many cases, but their involvement can often make matters considerably worse.
