IAPDC responds to the National Partnership Agreement

We welcome today’s announcement on the launch of the National Partnership Agreement and its guiding principle that people experiencing a mental health crisis should receive the right care from the right agency. Every year we witness avoidable police-related deaths of persons in mental health crisis. As we have repeatedly advised, including in our most recent report on police custody deaths, a multiagency approach, involving health professionals, is a crucial aspect of preventing these tragic deaths. We therefore welcome the collaborative, cross-sector approach in the development of this new agreement.  

However, without a carefully staged approach with strong safeguards, the roll out of the ‘Right Care, Right Person’ model under the National Partnership Agreement risks leaving people at risk of serious harm to themselves or others without care and support. Clear and comprehensive agreements between local police forces and health partners, backed by robust training, are needed to ensure people experiencing a mental health crisis do not fall through the cracks. Alternative arrangements must be put in place and properly funded, including the investment in and provision of more community-based projects to prevent people getting into crisis in the first place and health-based places of safety, to prevent a cliff-edge of support.

Further, the ‘Right Care, Right Person’ model rightly recognises that there will always be cases where the police will be involved in responding to persons in mental health crisis. It remains as critical as ever to make progress on ensuring that all officers are equipped with the training necessary to do so safely and are aware of the significant risks particularly in the use of restraint which has been a feature of many preventable deaths. 

As we set out in our report, there is currently minimal evaluation of which policing-related mental health interventions are most effective. As the ‘Right Care, Right Person’ model is rolled out across police forces in England and Wales, ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the approach is vital to ensuring the best outcomes for individuals struggling with their mental health. While we wholly sympathise with front-line police officers who are facing growing demand, their duty to safeguard the lives of the most vulnerable members of society must remain the priority. We are keen to work with police forces, health stakeholders, and the government to ensure that this new agreement delivers the right care as intended.