Publish date: 3 November 2023
From 1 November 2023, the Metropolitan Police changed the way they respond to calls related to health and social care concerns. This new policy is called Right Care Right Person.
Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) aims to ensure that vulnerable people in London who are experiencing a deterioration in their health, receive support from those most appropriately trained to deliver it.
This approach will mean that the right agency deals with health-related calls, instead of the police being seen as the default first responder.
If someone contacts police about a health issue, police call handlers have processes in place to better understand whether a police response is required or whether a healthcare professional would be the best person to help.
Police will continue to perform their role of keeping people safe. Where there is a real and immediate risk to life or serious harm, officers will respond swiftly as they do now.
There are areas in the policy, which have been recognised that will take time to implement, or which the Police recognise may initially need their continued support.
We appreciate there is still some uncertainty about the implementation, but we have worked very closely with our local policing units to see safe introduction of this new way of working and will be doing our best to ensure all issues are followed up by the most appropriate person.
Right Care Right Person (RCRP)
The new approach outlines the intention of the Police to withdraw support for the following:
- Medical support, physical or mental health where there isn’t also a criminal justice need or a role necessitating an officer
- Concern for welfare, welfare checks
- Walk Outs/AWOLs from healthcare settings
- Police transport when transfer is required under the Mental Health Act 1983, 2007, where ambulance services should instead be used
The areas that have been recognised that will take time to implement, and will have continued support.
- Transportation of a person who has been detained under s.136 of the Mental Health Act
- Where an individual is detained under s.136 and a police officer is directed to transport to a Health Based Place of Safety
The police will continue to respond:
- to investigate a crime that has occurred or is occurring; or
- to protect people, when there is a real and immediate risk to the life of a person, or of a person being subject to or at risk of serious harm - this means it is essential for us to ensure we’re clear in our assessment of risks, responding flexibly within our existing commissioned pathways, and not defaulting to Police support where health and care staff can provide interventions in a more appropriate way.
What does this mean for me?
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health you should still come forward for support in the normal way. If it is an emergency call 999 or for urgent help that isn’t an emergency please continue to call our local mental health crisis line on 0800 328 4444.
For further information:
National Partnership Agreement: Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Right Care Right Person (RCRP) national guidance launched | College of Policing
