§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given for police officers to deal with suspects who suffer from mental illness. [16699]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 22 November 2001]: The basic training that all new recruits receive includes an element that raises awareness of mental illness and highlights the importance of communicating effectively and sensitively with people suffering from a mental disorder. Individual forces also provide further training for their officers on these issues. Details are not held centrally of all such local provision.
More needs to be done to ensure an appropriate and properly informed police response to mentally ill individuals across the whole range of circumstances in which they deal with them. There are currently several strands of work focused on improving police practice in relation to suspects who suffer from mental illness. The Home Office, the Department of Health and the Association of Chief Police Officers are considering the development of national protocols covering the interaction between the police and health services in dealing with the mentally ill. The current review of the police codes of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 550W is seeking to strengthen further protections for mentally ill detainees, particularly in terms of assessing their vulnerabilities and fitness for interview. In addition, the review of the Mental Health Act which is under way is looking to increase the emphasis on using hospitals rather than police stations as places of safety for assessing mental condition.