Mental health and custody

The APCC’s work on mental health and custody plays an essential part in supporting Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Deputy Mayors to exercise their statutory duties. The portfolio treats both mental health and custody as distinct areas of work but also acknowledges the links between the two. It supports and guides PCCs in scrutinising the of provision police custody and force responses to mental health. Across England and Wales xxxx people are held in police custody each year. A disproportionate number of people held in police custody suffer from mental ill health. Custody can be a difficult experience for some people and, tragically the number of deaths in custody is xxxxxxxxxxxx. PCCs play an essential part in ensuring that those held in custody by the police are detained safely and fairly and within their rights whilst also ensuring public safety.

Along with the Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, College of Policing and NHS England, the APCC is a signatory to the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) National Partnership Agreement for England. This is a commitment to end the inappropriate and avoidable involvement of police in responding to incidents involving people, including both adults and children, with mental health needs.

The portfolio promotes the APCC as a leading partner for custody and mental health, provides PCCs with a national platform on these areas and supports multi-agency collaboration.

Matthew Scott, PCC for Kent, leads the portfolio on mental health work and Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime for Greater Manchester Combined Authority leads on custody for the APCC.

The APCC provides toolkits and guidance to support PCC scrutiny functions in holding chief constables to account for the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of the police force’s custody facilities. We work with OPCCs to raise awareness of custody-related issues and practice, and the functioning of RCRP across the country by hosting workshops and learning events and providing opportunities for staff to hear from policy makers and decision takers in government.

Other activities include working with national stakeholders such as the Home Office, NPCC, College of Policing, Independent Custody Visiting Association and National Appropriate Adults Network to identify issues that may affect the safe, fair and efficient operation of police custody and increasing PCCs’ voice nationally, through the ministerial board for preventing death in police custody and other forums to ensure the safe, fair and efficient custody service from their police force.

Right Care, Right Person

Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) is an approach to helping people suffering mental health incidents when policing is not always the best agency to respond. While some mental health incidents do require police attendance, there are a significant number which involve no safety risk or crime. The overarching aim of RCRP is to ensure vulnerable people get the right support from the right service. The RCRP approach is based on a model originally developed by Humberside police in 2021 with the backing of the PCC.

RCRP is provided locally by police forces working with partners in line with a National Partnership Agreement (NPA) signed by the APCC along with the Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing and NHS England to end the inappropriate and avoidable involvement of police in responding to incidents involving both adults and children with mental health needs. This agreement reflects the key role PCCs have in overseeing and supporting the delivery of RCRP in their areas. For example, as elected representatives, PCCs perform a key role by providing oversight and by communicating the approach to the communities they serve, helping to build public confidence and trust in the process. PCCs can also bring strategic partners together and have a proven record in successfully delivering national strategies and change locally. Although the NPA (England only) does not include a legal requirement for partners to deliver it, and its implementation is an operational matter for chief constables, the APCC strongly encourages PCCs to discuss and scrutinise force and partner activities relating to RCRP.

Preventing deaths in custody

Police custody is an essential part of everyday policing. Each year, thousands of people enter police custody, many with vulnerabilities and complex needs that require a caring and professional response. It is important detainees are held in conditions that are safe, secure and that the individual’s rights are properly observed.

Custody can also be a challenging environment for those officers and staff working in it. The commitment and professionalism of custody staff is an important element of public trust and confidence in policing.

As elected representatives, PCCs perform an important role in scrutinising the performance of the police in how they ensure the safety and security of detainees in custody whilst maintaining public confidence.

The APCC produces toolkits and guidance for PCCs to support them in holding chief constables to account for the safe and efficient provision of custody services. The

APCC also collates and shares notable practice from across different custody settings looking to prevent deaths in, or following release from, custody.

Independent Custody Visiting

Independent custody visiting (ICV) involves members of the local community who volunteer to check on the welfare of people detained in police custody. These volunteers call at police stations in pairs, unannounced, and observe the condition of custody suites as well as engaging with detainees to check on their welfare.

PCCs have a statutory duty to oversee the organisation and delivery of independent custody visiting. The schemes can play an integral part in allowing PCCs to hold chief constables to account as well as providing public confidence that people are being treated fairly when held in police custody.

The APCC works closely with the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) which represents and supports local custody visiting schemes. Through the ICVA, PCCs and their ICVs can raise issues or concerns and share good practice. The ICVA also provides advice and guidance to PCCs and their staff on standards, what a good volunteer scheme looks like and training on emerging themes. PCCs also provide the ICVA with data from the visits their ICVs conduct and this is shared with the Home Office to influence policy and legislation.

Portfolio leads