Welfare checks 421/2024
FOI Reference: 421/2024
Request:
- Can you confirm if DPP would always complete a risk assessment prior to attending a welfare check at the vulnerable person’s home?
- What are the normal procedures that police officers should follow and what training do they have regarding dealing with people with mental health issues?
Response 1:
The Force Communication Centre (FCC) will go through THRIVES (Threat/Harm/Risk) assessment for each call of this type. The outcome of this assessment will dictate if police will attend.
Response 2:
With regard to formal procedures, officers will try to use the least restrictive route when dealing with people who have Mental Health(MH) issues.
The first option will be to safeguard the person with family/friends, second option would be to signpost them for further support with specialist services such as NHS 111 option 2 for MH, another option would be for the person to voluntarily attend A&E to speak to a crisis team liaison practitioner. Lastly, police would utilise S.136 of the MHA to remove the person to a place of safety.
All new officers receive a full day’s training in HQ. From July this will be extended to include 2 days of shadowing MH services.
Existing officers are required to attend MH training as part of their training days. This is a half day session covering procedures and policies on MH.
(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 02/05/2024)