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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Met Police 'must review handling of mentally ill suspects' | Met Police 'must review handling of mentally ill suspects' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An review of the way the Metropolitan Police deals with mentally ill suspects has identified a series of failings. | 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. | 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. | 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. | The Met said it accepted the recommendations. |
| Of the 55 cases, 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' | '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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | One retired officer and two serving officers have been arrested as part of the investigation into Mr Rigg's death. |