Leicestershire Police’s Mental Health Triage Car

This week is mental health awareness week, providing us with the opportunity to share information about the force’s mental health triage service.

An officer and a mental health nurse from the from Leicestershire Partnership Trust (LPT) are partnered together in order to respond to people with mental health problems in public places.

The triage car is available daily between 8am and 2am daily and has reduced the number of people detained by the police and taken to a place of safety for a Mental Health Act assessment from around 450 per year down to 260. 

The forces Mental Health Partnership Officer, PC Jon Puckey, is part of the team providing the service. He said: “The mental health triage car is an invaluable asset to Leicestershire Police. Through its use we have almost halved the number of people detained by officers using their powers under the Mental Health Act.

“We provide advice and guidance about support this is available. We’re able to either signpost or send someone to the right agency to provide tailored support to the individuals needs.

 “We have excellent working relationships with other agencies such as the LPT and the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS). Our collaborative approach ensures we achieve the best outcomes possible for those people we’re responding to.”

In this video, our Chief Constable, Simon Cole QPM, explains in more detail about how the force work to support those who experience mental health problems within our communities;