Norfolk patient group calls for more clarity over 'Right Care, Right Person' plans
Norfolk Police will be introducing the plans towards the end of the year
Last updated 30th Jun 2023
A patient group in Norfolk is calling for greater clarity about how the Police's plans to scale-back how they respond to mental health calls will work in practice.
It's after Norfolk Police confirmed to us at the end of May that they will be introducing the 'Right Care, Right Person' initiative, towards the end of the year.
They aim to ensure each case will handled by the right emergency responders.
"This could end up costing us lots of money"
Alex Stewart is the chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk:
"They need to know how the mental health services and other bodies are going to cope with extra demand on their services that are now not going to be filled by the police services. Where do people go for help?...
"One of the big concerns from patients is money. Unless something gets the funding it needs, we could be on a hiding to nothing- and it could end up being cut.
"This could end up costing us lots of money if there is no funding for this right from the out-set.
"There's a lot of people who are very concerned about this"
"We have been in touch with Giles Orpen-Smelie Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner and he has assured us that we will be invited to a briefing in the not too distant future where we can ask questions...
"There are a lot of people who are very concerned about this, not least Zoe Billingham, the chair of Norfolk & Suffolk's Foundation Trust, who is the former national Police and Crime Commissioner. I'm hopeful that people will listen to her."
What has Norfolk Police said about this?
Deputy Chief Constable Simon Megicks said:
“Protecting the vulnerable and keeping people safe is at the heart of everything we do. However, all too often, police officers are dealing with situations that could be better handled by other, more appropriate agencies.
“This includes people in mental health crisis, who need the help and support of professionals and not the skills of a police officer. This type of demand is ever increasing with one in five calls we receive is mental health related.
“We are therefore letting our communities down twice; firstly, by not sending the right resource to people suffering mental-ill health and secondly, spending a large amount of time away from our core business of preventing and solving crime and supporting victims.
“The Right Care, Right Person initiative is about giving people the right support when they need it, from the right agency. It is supported by central government including the Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care and the policy has been recognised by the College of Policing and the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) as good practice.
“We are currently exploring this initiative locally and aim to introduce it towards the end of the year in a planned and phased approach, working closely with partners.
“We would never make a decision that would put people in danger, and we will continue to attend incidents where a crime has happened, where there’s harm or a risk to life.
“Policing will always have a role with people suffering mental ill health, but we cannot bridge the gap in service provision of other agencies. This is not a sustainable position or one which is good patients. Being dealt with by the police can have a detrimental impact on vulnerable people.
“The additional pressure burden placed on officers was something recognised in our most recent HMICFRS inspection.”