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Met Police 'must review handling of mentally ill suspects' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An review of the way the Metropolitan Police deals with mentally ill suspects has identified a series of failings. | |
The Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing urges the Met to improve procedures for using force, dealing with calls and keeping records. | |
It reviewed 55 cases - five of which were deaths in custody - involving people with mental health issues over the past five years. | |
The Met said it accepted the recommendations. | |
Of the 55 cases reviews, five were deaths in police custody and 45 were deaths either prior to or following contact with the police. | |
The other five cases resulted in serious injury. | The other five cases resulted in serious injury. |
A key finding was people with mental health issues complained they were "treated like criminals by the police" and were handled with "too much force". | A key finding was people with mental health issues complained they were "treated like criminals by the police" and were handled with "too much force". |
'Real opportunity' | |
Commission chair Lord Adebowale said: "I hope that those who receive this report ensure that the recommendations are implemented in the name of the families who have lost loved ones in terrible circumstances. | |
"They deserve the reassurance that other families will not suffer the same loss. | "They deserve the reassurance that other families will not suffer the same loss. |
"The commission has sought to provide actionable recommendations, so that there is a real opportunity for the Metropolitan Police Service [MPS] to change their approach significantly to those with mental health issues in their everyday policing. | |
"The report acknowledges that the MPS cannot do all of this on its own." | "The report acknowledges that the MPS cannot do all of this on its own." |
The report also recommended the London Ambulance Service needed to respond to individuals with "a clear mental health crisis" as an emergency even if the police were present. | |
Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "Lord Adebowale's report provides powerful evidence of the challenges that mental health issues present to the Metropolitan Police. | |
'Unsuitable' force | 'Unsuitable' force |
"It sets out clearly the frequency with which our officers are asked to support people at times of mental health crisis. | |
"I set up this commission to help us improve the way we deal with these challenges. We now have an opportunity to make significant progress. | |
"Broadly, I can say that I accept the recommendations the commission has made." | |
Sean Rigg, 40, who was schizophrenic, died from cardiac arrest at Brixton police station in August 2008. | |
Last year an inquest jury found officers had used "unsuitable" force after arresting Mr Rigg before his death on 21 August 2008. | |
Following the inquest, the Met apologised "unreservedly" and the IPCC launched a review of the case. | |
One retired officer and two serving officers have been arrested as part of the investigation into Mr Rigg's death. |