Current trends in policing and the mentally ill in Europe: a review of the literature

Abstract

This paper reviews the current English‐language literature on police and mentally ill offenders in Europe, including the UK. Opportunities are being lost at the first point of contact of people with mental illness (PMI) with the police, to divert them to treatment. Nevertheless a number of promising programs in the UK, notably those in London, Birmingham, and Belfast (Northern Ireland) are described, which do divert PMI from police stations for psychiatric assessment and treatment. Since there are still many mentally ill offenders slipping through the net and ending up in prison – attested to by their continuing representation in the ever‐increasing prison population – it is widely recognised that there is a need for more training for police and for the provision of psychiatric services at the police station – a role where community psychiatric nurses have proved very effective. More funding is needed for appropriate facilities in the community where PMI can be placed.

Keywords:

• Europe
• police
• mentally ill offenders
• diversion
• community mental health services
• training