Category: Mental health

Commissioner says government mental health announcement must act as a turning point for policing

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner says a new agreement on the emergency response to mental health calls announced by government today must act as a crucial turning point for overstretched police forces.

Lisa Townsend said responsibility for vulnerable people must return to specialist services, rather than police, ahead of the national roll-out of the Right Care, Right Person model.

The Commissioner has long championed the scheme, which will see the NHS and other agencies step in when a person is in crisis, saying it is critical to reducing the strain on police forces across the country.  

In Surrey, the amount of time officers are spending with those suffering mental health difficulties has almost trebled in the past seven years.

Scheme ‘will save 1m hours of police time’

The Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care has today announced a National Partnership Agreement that will pre-empt the implementation of Right Care, Right Person. The government estimates that the scheme could save one million hours of police time in England every year.

Lisa is continuing to have discussions with partners in mental health care, hospitals, social services and the ambulance service, and recently travelled to Humberside, where Right Care, Right Person launched five years ago, to learn more about the approach.

The Commissioner and a senior Surrey Police officers spent time in the Humberside Police contact centre, where they saw how mental health calls are triaged by the Force.

Turning point for forces

Lisa, who leads on mental health for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, yesterday addressed reporters at a national press conference held at the Home Office to introduce the scheme.

She said: “The announcement of this partnership agreement today and the roll out of Right Care, Right Person must act as a turning point in how police forces respond to non-emergency mental health calls.

“I recently had a fantastic meeting with officers in Humberside, and we’ve been learning some really good and important lessons from them on how this works.

“Around 1m hours of police time across the country could be saved if we get this right, so the police service must grasp this opportunity to ensure people get the right care when they need it, and at the same time, free up police resources to tackle crime. That is what we know our communities want to see.

‘It’s what our communities want’

“Where there is a threat to life, or the risk of serious injury, the police will of course always be there.

“However, Surrey’s Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and I agree that officers should not be attending every call that is related to mental health and that other agencies are better-placed to respond and provide support.

“If someone is in crisis, I don’t want to see them in the back of a police car.

“It cannot be the right response in the vast majority of these situations for two police officers to turn up, and I believe it could even be dangerous to a vulnerable person’s welfare.

“There are jobs only police can do. Only the police can prevent and detect crime.

“We would not ask a nurse or a doctor to do that work for us.

“In many cases, where a person isn’t at risk of harm, we must insist that the relevant agencies step in, rather than relying on our policing teams.

“This isn’t something that will be rushed – we are committed to working closely with our partners to implement these changes and ensure vulnerable people receive the right care, from the right person.”

Police and Crime Commisisoner for Surrey Lisa Townsend standing outside the Surrey Police Contact Centre with 'Contact Centre' visible on building sign behind her.

Commissioner backs calls for change on mental health response – after warning thousands of police hours are spent dealing with people in crisis

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner says the time has come for officers to stop attending every mental health call-out – after the Metropolitan Police announced an August deadline for incidents that don’t involve a threat to life.

Lisa Townsend, who this month warned that the crisis in mental health is taking officers off the frontline, says she believes all forces should follow suit which would save thousands of hours of police time across the country.

The Commissioner has long backed the introduction of the Right Care, Right Person model which initially began in Humberside.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaks about Right Care, Right Person at the NPCC's Mental Health and Policing Conference

It ensures that when there are concerns for a person’s welfare that are linked to their mental wellbeing, medical or social care issues, they’ll be seen by the right person with the best skills, training and experience.

Over the past seven years, the number of hours police in Surrey are spending with people in crisis has almost trebled.

In 2022/23, officers dedicated 3,875 hours to supporting those in need under section 136 of the Mental Health Act, which gives police the power to remove a person believed to be suffering from a mental disorder and in need of immediate care to a place of safety.

All section 136 incidents are double-crewed, meaning more than one officer must attend.

‘Time for change’

In February 2023 alone, officers spent 515 hours on incidents relating to mental health – the highest number of hours ever recorded in a single month by the Force.

And in March, two officers spent a full week supporting a vulnerable person, taking the officers away from their other duties.

Last week, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley gave care services a deadline of August 31 before his officers stop attending such incidents unless there is a risk to life.

Lisa, the national lead for mental health and custody for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), advocated for Right Care, Right Person at the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Mental Health and Policing Conference in May.

Commissioner’s call

She said a police response to a mental health incident may cause further harm to a vulnerable person.

“I have spoken out about this time and time again,” Lisa said today.

“Thousands of hours of police time are being taken up dealing with this issue and it cannot be right that police must shoulder this alone. It is time for action in the interests of public safety, and particularly for those suffering from crisis.

“On a recent visit to Reigate, I learned that one care service calls officers multiple times an evening when patients walk past security guards. Elsewhere, in March, two officers spent a full week of work alongside a person in crisis.

‘Police are shouldering this alone’

“This is not an effective use of officer’s time or what the public would expect their police service to have to deal with.

“The pressure intensifies when services better suited to caring for a person’s wellbeing shut on Friday evenings.

“Our officers do a fantastic job, and they should be proud of all they do to support those in need. But it remains that when appropriate interventions aren’t made by the NHS, huge damage is caused, especially to a vulnerable person.

“It is not safe or appropriate to continue this way.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stands outside the reception of the Surrey Police Headquarters near Guildford

Commissioner’s fury at attacks on police – as she warns of ‘hidden’ PTSD threat

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has told of her fury at assaults on “outstanding” police personnel – and warned of the “hidden” mental health challenges faced by those who serve the public.

In 2022, the Force recorded 602 attacks on officers, volunteers and police staff in Surrey, 173 of which resulted in an injury. The numbers have risen by almost 10 per cent on the previous year, when 548 assaults were reported, 175 of which involved an injury.

Nationally, there were 41,221 assaults on police personnel in England and Wales in 2022 – an increase of 11.5 per cent on 2021, when 36,969 assaults were recorded.

Ahead of national Mental Health Awareness Week, which is happening this week, Lisa visited Woking-based charity Police Care UK.

The organisation discovered through a commissioned report that around one in five of those who serve suffer with PTSD, a rate four to five times that seen in the general population.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend, on right, with Police Care UK’s Chief Executive Gill Scott-Moore

Lisa, the national lead for mental health and custody for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: “It doesn’t matter what the job is – no one deserves to be fearful when they go to work.

“Our police personnel are outstanding and do an incredibly difficult job of protecting us.

“They run towards danger while we run away.

“We should all be outraged by these statistics, and concerned about the hidden toll such assaults are having, both in Surrey and around the country.

“As part of an officer’s working day, they may be dealing with car crashes, violent crime or abuse against children, meaning it’s perhaps no surprise that they may struggle already with their mental health.

‘Appalling’

“To then face an assault at work is appalling.

“The wellbeing of those who serve in Surrey is a key priority, both for myself and our new Chief Constable, Tim De Meyer, and for the new chair of Surrey’s Police Federation, Darren Pemble.

“We must do everything we can to support those who give so much to Surrey’s residents.

“I urge anyone who needs help to reach out, either within their force through their EAP provision, or in the event that adequate support is not forthcoming, by contacting Police Care UK.

“If you have already left, that is no barrier – the charity will work with anyone who has suffered harm as a result of their policing role, although I urge police personnel to work with their forces first.”

Fury at attacks

Mr Pemble said: “By its very nature, policing will often involve intervening in extremely traumatic events. This can result in huge mental distress for those who serve.

“When anyone working on the frontline is then attacked simply for doing their job, the impact can be significant.

“Beyond that, it also has a knock-on effect to forces around the country, many of which are already struggling to support officers with their mental health.

“If officers are forced out of their roles either temporarily or in the longer-term as the result of an assault, it means there are fewer available to keep the public safe.

“Any form of violence, harassment or intimidation towards those who serve is always unacceptable. The role is tough enough – physically, mentally and emotionally – without the added impact of an assault.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaking at a podium

Commissioner’s warning as crisis in care ‘takes officers off the frontline’

Posted on | by Alex Winter

THE crisis in mental health care is taking Surrey Police officers off the frontline – with two officers recently spending a full week with a single vulnerable person, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner has warned.

As national Mental Health Awareness Week begins, Lisa Townsend said the burden of care is falling on officer’s shoulders amid nation-wide challenges to provide support to the most vulnerable.

However, a new national model that will take the responsibility away from police will bring “real and fundamental change”, she said.

Over the past seven years, the number of hours police in Surrey are spending with people in crisis has almost trebled.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaks about the Right Care, Right Person model at the NPCC’s Mental Health and Policing Conference

In 2022/23, officers dedicated 3,875 hours to supporting those in need under section 136 of the Mental Health Act, which gives police the power to remove a person believed to be suffering from a mental disorder and in need of immediate care to a place of safety. All section 136 incidents are double-crewed, meaning more than one officer must attend.

In February 2023 alone, officers spent 515 hours on incidents relating to mental health – the highest number of hours ever recorded in a single month by the Force.

More than 60 people were detained when they were in crisis in February. The detentions were mostly in police vehicles as a result of ambulance shortages.

During March, two officers spent a full week supporting a vulnerable person – taking the officers away from their other duties.

‘Huge damage’

Across England and Wales, there was a 20 per cent increase in the number of mental health incidents police had to attend last year, according to data from 29 of 43 forces.

Lisa, the national lead for mental health and custody for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), said the issue draws officers away from fighting crime and may even be “dangerous” for a vulnerable person’s wellbeing.

“These figures show the huge damage caused across society when appropriate interventions aren’t made by the NHS,” she said.

“It is neither safe nor appropriate for police to pick up the pieces of a failing mental health care system, and may even be dangerous for the wellbeing of a person in crisis, although officers should be applauded for the fantastic job they do under a great deal of pressure.

“Unlike doctor’s surgeries, community health outreach programmes or council services, the police are available 24 hours a day.

Commissioner’s warning

“We have seen time and time again that 999 calls to help someone in distress spike as other agencies close their doors.

“The time has come for real and fundamental change.

“In the coming months, we hope that forces around the country will no longer have to attend every mental health incident reported. We’ll instead follow a new initiative called Right Care, Right Person, which began in Humberside and has saved officers there more than 1,100 hours per month.

“It means that when there are concerns for a person’s welfare that’s linked to their mental health, medical or social care issues, they’ll be seen by the right person with the best skills, training and experience.

“This will help officers return to the job they have chosen – that of keeping Surrey safe.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and representative of Police Care UK

Commissioner’s mental health plea after visit to Surrey-based national charity for serving and former police personnel

Posted on | by Alex Winter

COMMISSIONER Lisa Townsend has called for greater awareness of the mental health challenges facing police officers and staff.

On a visit to Police Care UK’s headquarters in Woking, Lisa said more must be done to support police workers across the country, throughout their service and beyond.

It comes after a report commissioned by the charity revealed that around one in five of those who serve with police forces around the UK suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – four to five times the rate seen in the general population.

The organisation currently supports an average of 140 cases per month from across the UK, and have delivered 5,200 counselling sessions.

It also funds therapeutic support where possible, including a pilot intensive two-week residential therapy, available only via force occupational health departments. Of the 18 people who have attended the stay so far, 94 per cent have been able to return to work.

All of those to attend the pilot so far have been diagnosed with complex PTSD, which results from repeated or prolonged trauma as opposed to a single traumatic experience.

Police Care UK supports the police community and their families by offering confidential, free help, with a particular focus on those who have left the service or are at risk of their career being cut short due psychological or physical occupational trauma.

Lisa, who is the national lead for mental health and custody for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), said: “It is perhaps no surprise that police officers and staff are more likely than the average person to suffer problems with mental health.

“As part of their working day, many will repeatedly be dealing with truly nightmarish scenarios, such as car crashes, child abuse and violent crime.

Charity support

“This is also true for police staff, including the call handlers who speak with those who urgently need help and the PCSOs who work so closely with our communities.

“Beyond that, we must also recognise the enormous toll mental health can take on families.

“The wellbeing of those who serve with Surrey Police is of key importance, both to myself and our new Chief Constable Tim De Meyer. We are agreed that a ‘posters and potpourri’ approach to mental health is not appropriate, and we must do everything we can to support those who give so much to Surrey’s residents.

“That’s why I’d urge anyone who is in need to seek help, either within their force through their EAP provision or by contacting Police Care UK. Leaving a police force is no barrier to receiving care and help – the charity will work with anyone who has suffered harm as a result of their policing role.”

Police Care UK is in need of financial support, with donations gratefully welcomed.

‘Truly nightmarish’

Chief Executive Gill Scott-Moore said: “Dealing with mental health issues as they arise can save police forces many hundreds of thousands of pounds every year.

“For example, the cost of an ill-health retirement can reach £100,000, whereas a course of intensive counselling for the affected person is not only far cheaper, but may allow them to return to full-time work.

“Where someone is forced into an early retirement, it can have a huge ongoing impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

“We know that the right support can build resilience to trauma, reduce absences through ill-health and make a real difference to families. Our aim is to raise awareness of the long-term impact and help those who need us the most.”

For more information, or to contact Police Care UK, visit policecare.org.uk

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaking at a conference

“We shouldn’t be asking hard-pressed police to serve as healthcare workers” – Commissioner calls for improvements to mental health care

Posted on | by Surrey PCC | Leave a Comment on “We shouldn’t be asking hard-pressed police to serve as healthcare workers” – Commissioner calls for improvements to mental health care

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey has said mental health care must improve to allow officers to return their focus to crime.

Lisa Townsend said police forces across the country are increasingly being asked to intervene when people are in crisis, with between 17 and 25 per cent of officers’ time spent on incidents related to mental health.

On World Mental Health Day (Monday 10 October), Lisa joined a panel of experts at ‘The Price We Pay For Turning Away’ conference which was organised and hosted by Heather Phillips, the High Sheriff of Greater London.

Alongside speakers including Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London and Chief Coroner of England and Wales, and David McDaid, an Associate Professorial Research Fellow at The London School of Economics, Lisa told of the impact acute mental ill-health has on policing.

She said: “The lack of adequate provision in our communities for those struggling with mental illness has created a nightmarish scenario for both police officers and the most vulnerable people in our society.

“It’s an issue of huge concern to our over-stretched officers, who are doing their very best every day to keep their communities safe.

“Unlike doctor’s surgeries, council services or community health outreach programmes, police forces are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We know that 999 calls to help someone in distress tend to spike as other agencies close their doors for the evening.”

Many forces in England and Wale have their own street triage teams, which unite mental health nurses with police officers. In Surrey, a committed officer leads the force’s response to mental health, and every call centre operator has received dedicated training to identify those in distress.

However, Lisa – who is the national lead for mental health and custody for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) – said the burden of care should not be falling to police.

“There’s no doubt at all that our officers up and down the country are doing a truly outstanding job of supporting people in crisis,” Lisa said.

“I am aware that health services are under enormous strain, particularly following the pandemic. However, it concerns me that police are increasingly seen as an emergency branch of social and health services.

“The cost of that perception is now too heavy for officers and those in need of help to bear any longer. We should not be asking our hard-pressed police teams to serve as healthcare practitioners.

“It isn’t their role, and despite their excellent training, they don’t have the expertise to do the job.”

Heather Phillips, who founded prison charity Beating Time, said: “My role as High Sheriff is to promote the peace, wellbeing and prosperity of Greater London.

“The crisis in mental health care is, I believe, undermining all three. Part of my role is to support the justice services. It’s been a privilege to give them a platform to be heard on this important issue.”

Community Safety Assembly

Services commit to joined up response at first Community Safety Assembly in Surrey

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The first Community Safety Assembly in the county was held this May as Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend united partner organisations with a shared commitment to work more closely together.

The event launched the new Community Safety Agreement between partners that include Surrey Police, local authorities, health and victim support services across Surrey. The Agreement outlines how partners will work together to improve community safety, by enhancing the support for individuals affected or at risk of harm, reducing inequalities and strengthening collaboration between different agencies.

The Assembly organised by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey welcomed representatives from over 30 organisations to the Dorking Halls, where they discussed how to improve the joint response to community issues including antisocial behaviour, mental ill-health, and criminal exploitation. The meeting was also the first time that representatives from each of the organisations had met in person since the start of the pandemic.

Group work on a variety of topics was accompanied by presentations from Surrey Police and Surrey County Council, including the Force’s focus on reducing violence against women and embedding a problem-solving approach to preventing crime across the service.

Throughout the day, members were asked to consider the bigger picture of so-called ‘low level crime’, learn to spot the signs of hidden harm and discuss potential solutions to challenges including barriers to sharing information and building public trust.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Lisa Townsend, who is also the Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s national lead for Mental Health and Custody, said: “Every organisation has a role play in reducing vulnerabilities that can lead to harm in our communities.

“That’s why I’m proud that the Community Safety Assembly held for the first time by my office has brought such a wide spectrum of partners under one roof to discuss how we can all take steps to deliver a more joined-up response within the new Community Safety Agreement for Surrey.

“We heard from partners about what we can learn from the amazing work that is already happening across our county, but also had really open conversations about what doesn’t work so well and how we can improve.

“It is important that we spot the signs of harm earlier and address gaps between agencies that can prevent individuals from accessing the right support. For example, we know that mental ill-health has a significant impact on policing and this is one of the areas that I am already discussing with our health partners to ensure the response is coordinated so that individuals receive the best possible care.

“The Assembly was just the start of these conversations, that form part of our ongoing commitment to together improve safety right across our communities.”

Find out more about the Community Safety Partnership in Surrey and read the Community Safety Agreement here.

You can see our dedicated page for updates following the Community Safety Assembly here.

We play an essential role in enhancing support – Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaks at national conference on criminal justice

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has called for more to be done to support women and girls who experience gender-based violence during a panel discussion at this year’s Modernising Criminal Justice conference.

The discussion chaired by Reader in Criminal Law at King’s College Dr Hannah Quirk coincided with domestic abuse awareness week in Surrey and included questions on the progress made since the launch of the Government’s ‘Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Strategy’ in 2021 and how Safer Streets funding provided by Police and Crime Commissioners is making a difference to the lives of women and girls locally.

The conference at the QEII Centre in London featured speakers from across the criminal justice sector, including the Ministry of Justice, Crown Prosecution Service, fellow Police and Crime Commissioners and the Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird.

Reducing violence against women and girls, including victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, is a key priority in Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan for Surrey.

Speaking alongside the Chief Executive of AVA (Against Violence and Abuse), Donna Covey CBE, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend welcomed a significant increase in funding from the Government in the last two years to tackle the violence women experience every day, adding Commissioners played an essential role in ensuring services on the ground are able to provide the best possible support and care to those who need it.

She said more work was needed to ensure that justice was achieved for victims, requiring the whole criminal justice system to work together to hear survivors’ voices and do more to recognise the impact of trauma on individuals and their families: “I’m pleased to take part in this national conference with a really important aim of collaborating across the criminal justice sector to prevent offending and reduce harm in our communities.

“I’m passionate about reducing violence against women and girls and this is a key area in which I am dedicating my full attention to as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

“It is essential in our efforts to drive change that we continue to act on what survivors are telling us needs to be different. I am really proud of the enormous amount of work being led by my team, Surrey Police and with our partners, which includes early intervention to address behaviours that lead to violence, and ensuring there is specialist support that recognises the deep and lasting impact all forms of violence against women and girls can have on the mental health of both adult and child survivors.

“Recent developments including the Domestic Abuse Act offer new opportunities to strengthen this response and we are grasping these with both hands.”

In 2021/22, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner provided more support to individuals affected by sexual violence, rape, stalking and domestic abuse than ever before, with £1.3m in funding provided to local organisations to support the survivors of domestic abuse and a new Safer Streets project aimed at improving the safety of women and girls in Woking. A dedicated service to challenge the behaviour of both stalking and domestic abuse perpetrators across Surrey was also launched and is the first of its kind to be launched in the UK.

The Commissioner’s office continues to play a key role in significantly increasing the number of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors in Surrey, who provide direct advice and guidance in the community to help victims rebuild trust, access support and navigate the criminal justice system.

Confidential advice and support is available from Surrey’s independent specialist domestic abuse services by contacting the Your Sanctuary helpline 01483 776822 (9am-9pm every day) or by visiting the Healthy Surrey website.

To report a crime or seek advice please call Surrey Police via 101, online or using social media. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Women's Aid Deserve to be heard campaign banner

“We owe it to survivors to provide specialist support.” – Police Commissioner joins Women’s Aid to raise awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on mental health

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has joined the Women’s Aid ‘Deserve to be Heard’ campaign calling for better mental health provision for survivors of domestic abuse.

To mark the start of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, the Commissioner has issued a joint statement with Women’s Aid and the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership, asking the Government to recognise domestic abuse as a public health priority.

The statement also calls for sustainable funding for specialist domestic abuse services for survivors.

Community services such as helplines and specialist outreach workers account for around 70% of the assistance provided to survivors and play, alongside refuges, a fundamental part in halting the cycle of abuse.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend, who is also the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners National Lead for Mental Health and Custody, said every person needed to play a part in reducing the stigma attached to abuse and mental health.

She said: “We know that women and children who experience abuse suffer serious harm to their mental health that can include anxiety, PTSD, depression and suicidal thoughts. Raising awareness of the links between abuse and mental health sends an important message to survivors that there are people they can talk to that understand.

“We owe it to survivors of abuse to provide the right support to improve their mental health. We can and must keep pushing to ensure these services reach as many individuals as possible.”

CEO for Women’s Aid, Farah Nazeer said: “All women Deserve To Be Heard, but we know from our work with survivors that shame and stigma around domestic abuse and mental health prevent many women from speaking out. Coupled with the huge obstacles to accessing support – from long waiting times to the victim-blaming culture, which often asks women ‘what is wrong with you? Rather than, ‘what happened to you?’ – survivors are being failed.

“We must work together to ensure that domestic abuse is recognised as a key cause of women’s ill-mental health- and provide the holistic responses that survivors need to heal. This includes better understanding of trauma, greater partnership, including between mental health and domestic abuse services, and ring-fenced funding for specialist domestic abuse services led ‘by and for’ Black and minoritised women.

“Too many women are let down by the systems that are designed to help them. Through Deserve To Be Heard, we will ensure that survivors are listened to, and receive the support they need to heal and move forward.”

In 2020/21, the Office of the PCC provided more funds to address violence against women and girls than ever before, including close to close to £900,000 in funding to local organisations to provide support to survivors of domestic abuse.

Anyone concerned about themselves or someone they know can access confidential advice and support from Surrey’ independent specialist domestic abuse services by contacting the Your Sanctuary helpline 01483 776822 9am-9pm every day, or by visiting the Healthy Surrey website.

To report a crime or seek advice please call Surrey Police via 101, online or using social media. If you feel that you or someone you know is at immediate risk please always dial 999 in an emergency.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend takes national lead on mental health and custody

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has become the national lead for mental health and custody for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC).

Lisa will guide best practise and the priorities of PCCs across the country, including strengthening the support available to those affected by mental ill-health and encouraging best practise in police custody.

The position will build on Lisa’s previous experience of supporting the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health, working alongside charities and the Centre for Mental Health to develop policies to put forward to the Government.

Lisa will lead the response from PCC’s to the Government on topics including the relationship between mental health service provision, police time spent attending to incidents and reducing offending.

The custody portfolio will champion the most effective processes for the detention and care of individuals, including continuous improvement of Independent Custody Visiting Schemes delivered by PCCs in England and Wales.

Independent Custody Visitors are volunteers who visit police stations to carry out important checks on the conditions of custody and the welfare of those who are detained. In Surrey, each of the three custody suites is visited five times a month by a team of 40 ICVs.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “The mental health of our communities has an enormous impact on policing across the UK, and often places

police officers first at the scene in times of crisis.

“I’m excited to lead Police and Crime Commissioners and police forces right across the country, who have close relationships with health services and local organisations to strengthen the support for individuals affected by mental ill-health. This includes reducing the number of individuals who are vulnerable to criminal exploitation because of mental health concerns.

“In the last year, health services have faced enormous strain – as Commissioners, I believe there is much we can do together with local organisations to develop new initiatives and support impactful projects that will protect more individuals from harm.

“The Custody Portfolio is of equal importance to me and offers a chance to make further improvements in this less visible area of policing.”

Lisa will be supported by Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, who is Deputy Lead for Mental Health and Custody.