Police mental health training and procedures (FOI)

Request

With mental health in the headlines at the moment we would like to know:

A

How many Police Constables (PCs) in the States of Jersey Police force have received official mental health training?

B

Can you tell us what this form of mental health training entailed?

C

During questioning who takes the decision on the severity of the accused illness and how is this decision made?

D

Can you please let us know the process that is taken into account when dealing and charging a suspect who is officially declared mental ill?

E

What checks and balances are in place within Jersey Police to make sure that these processes are followed?

F

When charging a suspect, do PC's follow different guidelines to secure the wellbeing of patients who have made it clear that they are diagnosed with a mental illness?

G

Is it police policy to let a mentally ill patient, who has been diagnosed and declared this in previous interviews, know that they will be charged with a serious charge with a short phone call with no details of support?

H

How many offenders who have declared being mentally ill in police interviews have ended up having hospital treatment, between charge and their final court appearance?

Response

A and B

No officers receive training that would lead to a professional qualification, however, all officers receive input on mental health issues during initial training. This is delivered by MIND Jersey. Further training during an officer’s probation period is delivered by Autism Jersey (SPELL training). Recruits also receive the Connecting with People ‘Suicide Awareness’ Package as part of the wider Suicide Prevention Strategy. The recruits also carry out various community engagement opportunities such as bowling / carol singing with Jersey Mencap and have further project work to do around the various strand groups.

Custody Staff receive a mental health input from a UK specialist, focused on a basic understanding of mental health conditions and managing risk.

Earlier this year, the States police ran a series of lunchtime mental health sessions over six weeks, with different topics covered each week, each delivered by an expert in the field. All five uniformed shifts attended one of the sessions, each session was open to other members of the force, both uniform and support staff.

C to G

If a detainee is identified as a person at risk, the custody sergeant will request further advice and assessment is by the Force Medical examiner (FME), one of four specially trained local GP’s. The FME will assess and decide if the detainee is fit to detain and / or is fit for interview. Any decision on mental health welfare may require the attendance of a specialist mental health professional, either a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) or a psychiatrist from the hospital. Together, the CPN and FME will decide on any measures required during detention and or interview.

Any identified issues will be taken into consideration when a decision is made whether to charge the detainee or not. This may require further legal advice.

The treatment of all persons in custody is governed by Code C of the Police Procedures and Criminal Evidence (Codes of Practice) (Jersey) Order 2004, Article 13 specifically addresses Persons at risk:

Police Procedures and Criminal Evidence (Codes of Practice) (Jersey) Order 2004

H

This information is not held.

Once a person has left police custody, police have no record of an individual’s actions although, admission to hospital may become a factor in the progression of a case to court.