Why the Met shouldn’t stop responding to mental health 999 calls

Critics say a decision to have a blanket ban on police response could endanger the safety of some of the most vulnerable in our society

Sir Mark Rowley has written to health and social care services with a deadline for the new policy (PA)

With a significant amount of police resources being spent on responding to mental health call outs, health and crime leaders have known for a long time that something would have to give.

Just last year, during a ride out with London Ambulance Service, The Independent witnessed the moment six police officers were called out to help one mental health patient. On the same day, we visited an A&E with several police officers who had spent almost an entire shift there with patients.

In a report in February, NHS leaders in London warned mental health demand was “impacting London’s ambulance service and police services”. It said that, on average, 385 London Ambulance Service calls a day – around 13 per cent – are linked to mental health crises, while a further 200 calls are made to the Metropolitan Police.