The College of Policing has now released, for public consultation, draft guidance on policing and mental health – known as Approved Professional Practice. We have been working on this for the last year or so —
WE NOW NEED YOUR VIEWS!
These materials are now open for your scrutiny and feedback and will remain so until the end of 2015. During early 2016, we will synthesize all of your opinions and observations into a final product and it will be published by the end of the first quarter.
Two important hyperlinks for you –
- A press release from the College of Policing, announcing the consultation.
- Download the draft guidance.
This second link takes you to the College APP website and you’ll see four separate hyperlinks in orange on the left-hand side of the page. Each of these links is to one of four individual ‘chapters’ of guidance that cover the main topics across policing and mental health.
You then need to use this template for your feedback; and send it by email to the APP developers.
From my own professional point of view, the challenge in producing guidance is how to achieve brevity and simplicity in a topic area that is massive and full of complexity. You may take the view that we haven’t struck this balance and for what it’s worth, we’ve debated it at length and are still uncertain as to we’ve judged it perfectly! Whether you think this is too much or too little, you need to let us know and be specific: then we can work hard to get this right after the consultation ends.
But for now: it’s over to you and please feel entitled to push this around your personal and professional networks, as you see fit.
.
Michael./
Winner of the President’s Medal,
the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Winner of the Mind Digital Media Award
All opinions expressed are my own – they do not represent the views of any organisation.
(c) Michael Brown, 2015
I try to keep this blog up to date, but inevitably over time, amendments to the law as well as court rulings and other findings from inquests and complaints processes mean it is difficult to ensure all the articles and pages remain current. Please ensure you check all legal issues in particular and take appropriate professional advice where necessary.
Government legislation website – www.legislation.gov.uk
Mental Health Cop 
Disappointed that it does not cover more guidance on offenders who are already detained in hospital and continue to commit offences.
Not unfair comment and something I’ve already raised. Make sure you submit your view through the feedback form, especially if you’ve something specific to highlight.