Suffolk Police faced largest increase in mental health calls between 2019 and 2021 as new government agreement could see better care brought in

A new government plan could see better care for people in a mental health crisis, after it was revealed Suffolk Constabulary recorded the highest increase in mental health calls in the country between 2019 and 2021.

A Labour Party investigation has revealed the constabulary recorded a huge rise in mental health calls, 342 per cent, while neighbouring Norfolk Police recorded a 260 per cent rise.

The third highest rise was in Northamptonshire, which recorded 90 per cent more calls across the three years. On average, forces received almost 11,000 mental health related 999 calls in 2021 - more than 200 a week.

Yesterday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman wrote to police chiefs to set out the agreement between policing and health departments the government will put in place to address concerns over the amount of resources taken to respond to such emergencies.

The Home Office said the new National Partnership Agreement, which will see improvements made to triage methods, will be underpinned by the principle that mental health incidents should receive a health response first while recognising some situations may still need police presence.

This comes as Ipswich Labour parliamentary candidate Jack Abbott has hit out at the Conservative Party over NHS pressures.

"The fact that Suffolk and Norfolk are top of the list will surprise no one living here," he said.

"Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has been in dire straits for years, yet absolutely no action has been taken by the Conservatives.

"This means people are not getting the support they need, when they need it, while our already stretched police are taken away from tackling crime in our communities. People who desperately need help are being failed.

"Under Labour, the police will do what they're meant to do - prevent crime, punish criminals, and protect communities - by putting 13,000 extra neighbourhood police and PCSOs on our streets with 1,000 coming to the East of England.

"At the same time, people will receive the mental health support they need by guaranteeing mental health treatment within a month.

"No more Conservative sticking plasters. It's time for real change," he added.

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said: “Incidents in which mental health is a factor are a significant part of our day to day work and touch on almost every area of policing.

"Suffolk Constabulary constantly assesses the impact that mental health demand has on already stretched police resources.

"We are continually working to gain a better understanding of the demand we face in this area.”

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: "From day one it’s been my mission to reduce unnecessary burdens keeping police from their primary focus – fighting crime and keeping people safe.

"I was genuinely concerned to hear from policing about the amount of resource required to respond to mental health emergencies. It’s not fair on the officers, the public or on those in need of professional healthcare.

"Together with the Department for Health and Social Care, policing and healthcare providers, we are bringing forward a package of measures to help rectify what has clearly become a systemic problem."

Based on the ‘Right Care, Right Person’ model, the new agreement will make it easier for staff in police control rooms to identify the right agency to deploy at the outset, when responding to 999 calls concerning individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

It is being coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and should be agreed by the end of March. An implementation timeline and resourcing plan will then be confirmed.

Stuart Richardson, CEO at NSFT, said: “Whilst figures show Norfolk and Suffolk police experienced the biggest percentage increase in the number of mental health related calls between 2019 and 2021, our two counties are not in the list of the largest number of calls per constabulary in 2021, as set out in the same set of statistics. Other areas of the country were clearly experiencing higher volumes of calls at that time than Norfolk and Suffolk.

“That said, we work very hard to ensure people who come to the attention of the police receive an assessment of their mental health needs as soon as possible and that we provide the appropriate support as quickly as we can.

“Our urgent mental health helpline is available to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Simply call 111 and select option 2 for help and support.

“As is the case across the country, we are facing a sustained and growing demand for our specialist mental health services and we are caring for more people with complex problems and who are experiencing a crisis. We recognise the impact this can have on our partners.

“We are working with our health and care partners to help transform mental health care in Norfolk and Suffolk – to prioritise prevention, early intervention, more integrated community-based local services, support in the community in a crisis and rapid access to specialist services when people need them.”