FOI Police Assistance for Mental Health Issues (0412-2022/23)

Request

Please could you advise what your dispatch process is for:

When ambulance assistance is requested for support with restraint for patients who lack mental capacity and they are deemed to require life-sustaining intervention or it was necessary to prevent a serious deterioration in someone’s condition.

Response

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.

There is no specific process in such circumstances beyond calling the ambulance service, explaining the circumstances as accurately as possible, emphasising the urgency and hoping they provide a quick response. Albeit this type of call would likely come from the Force Control Room rather than the police officer on the ground who is engaged in the restraint.

Training is given via Officer Safety Training on Acute Behavioural Disorder which includes the use of restraints on a person who may be experiencing an episode of behavioural disorder.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.