First reported 9 Dec 2013•Latest report 2 Feb 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes police training failures specifically affecting recognition or response to mental ill-health, acute behavioural disturbance, epilepsy or other medical crises presenting through behaviour.
Not included
Excludes generic police training deficiencies not explicitly tied to mental health recognition or response.
Excludes failures in clinical mental health assessment or treatment where police training is not the identified concern.
Excludes failures of police incident attendance, communication or information recording unless they are explicitly identified as manifestations of inadequate police mental health training.
Reports
30
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
41
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2013–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
83
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
College of Policing14
National Police Chiefs’ Council9
Association of Ambulance Chief Executives5
Department of Health and Social Care5
Metropolitan Police Service5
Sussex Police4
Home Office3
Dorset Police2
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust2
NHS England2
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust2
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust2
Surrey Police2
Association Of British Neurologists1
Avon and Somerset Constabulary1
Police force24
National policing body17
NHS trust12
Ministerial department6
Health-sector membership body5
Executive non-departmental public body2
Registered charity2
English county council1
English metropolitan district council1
English unitary authority1
Health and social care service regulator1
Health professional body1
Health professional committee1
Integrated care board1
Non-ministerial department1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Essex
Concerns raised1
Discrepancy in Acute Behavioural Disturbance recognition and alert training for Police Officers and Special Constables
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Standardise Acute Behavioural Disturbance training for regular officers and Special Constables across initial and refresher training.
Stated by Essex PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 16 February 2026.
South Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised2
Lack of police training for mental health-related incidents involving illicit substance use
Failure of police training on ambulance conveyance for s.136 detainees
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner West London
Concerns raised1
Inadequate response officer training on de-escalation and taser deployment tactics for subjects with mental ill-health
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Embed de-escalation techniques and BUGEE conflict-management skills within PPST and Taser training, including scenario-based assessment of mental distress and vulnerable persons.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Action
Operate a Taser-specific Community Scrutiny Panel and feed its review of incidents into officer training.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Action
Review Taser activations through the dedicated Taser use review system and address use falling outside training or justification.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Frontline officers, rather than communication officers, are responsible for awareness of force against black men with mental-health issues.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Shortcomings in training for incidents involving fluctuating or lacking capacity and absconding from treatment centres
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Provide mandatory Right Care, Right Person training to Force Contact staff and relevant frontline officers, including decision-support materials and phase-specific training.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 November 2024.
Action
Develop a hospital-absconder question set and related Force Contact training to gather information supporting deployment decisions without treating medical capacity as determinative.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 November 2024.
Action
Update training lesson plans and inputs on the Mental Capacity Act, capacity assessments and partner-agency assessments for all staff.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 November 2024.
Action
Reinforce through training that staff must re-THRIVE and record a full rationale when recommending non-police attendance.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 November 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Police cannot determine deployment solely from capacity status because officers are not medically trained to assess its implications.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure officers are trained to assess mental health-related calls and associated immediate risks
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Create and provide a bespoke e-learning training package on responding to mental health incidents for all police forces.
Stated by College of PolicingStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2024.
Action
Deliver mandatory mental health awareness training to officers and relevant contact-centre staff.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2024.
Action
Provide RCRP assessment and decision-making training through role-specific courses and an accredited e-learning package.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2024.
Action
Provide clinical mental-health advice, incident-call reviews and GP referrals through the Mental Health Tactical Advice Service.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2024.
Action
Monitor and review RCRP assessment decisions and adverse outcomes, reporting findings to senior command and partner governance.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2024.
Action
Enhance and introduce quality-assurance systems supporting RCRP decision-making and continuing professional development.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.7
Position
Policing, mental health management, cross-service collaboration and GP decision-making do not concern Trafford Council’s actions or decisions, so it cannot address them.
Stated by Trafford Borough CouncilOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
The College of Policing and Greater Manchester Police are responsible for addressing the specific police working practices raised.
Stated by Home OfficeRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Policing, advocacy, communication, and interagency information access should be addressed by the other individuals and organisations named in the report.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Concerns about police training, family notification, international mental health connectivity and GP list removals relate to other organisations and fall outside NWAS’s remit.
Stated by North West Ambulance Service NHS TrustOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Police mental-health call training is assigned to the Home Office, Greater Manchester Police and the College of Policing.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Training police officers to assess mental-health calls and determine police involvement sits outside CQC’s remit.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Greater Manchester Police and the College of Policing are better placed to address police mental-health assessment and involvement concerns.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure police officers understand mental health issues and referral information requirements
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Joint training with SPFT is not considered workable because its cost and logistical requirements are disproportionate at this stage.
Stated by Sussex PoliceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
South Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
Lack of police officer training in recognising mental health conditions and their behavioural effects
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Deliver mental-health awareness training to frontline officers, including recognition of mental-health problems and crisis indicators.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 4 April 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Existing acute behavioural disturbance and mental-health training means generic mental-health conditions will not be added to first-aid training.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Force-wide mental-health CPD cannot be delivered before 2025 because current continuing-professional-development capacity is full.
Stated by South Yorkshire PoliceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Cheshire
Concerns raised3
Failure of ABD training and recognition processes to identify nuanced signs in drug intoxication and consider prone-restraint risks
ABD training failing to support reliable identification of underlying medical conditions and referral in dynamic settings
Rigid ABD training focused on specific symptoms and failing to support recognition of other signs
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Publish the revised First Aid Learning Programme outcome requiring officers to recognise signs and symptoms of acute behavioural disturbance.
Stated by College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Action
Develop and update Public and Personal Safety Training to cover ABD presentation and causes, de-escalation, restraint risks, medical assistance, monitoring, and scenario-based decision-making.
Stated by College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Manchester South
Concerns raised2
Lack of formal training on suspected feigned unresponsiveness
Failure of ABD training to enable recognition in real-life settings
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Publish the revised First Aid Learning Programme with a learning outcome requiring recognition of acute behavioural disturbance signs and symptoms.
Stated by College of PolicingStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 September 2023.
Action
Implement scenario-based Public and Personal Safety Training covering ABD recognition, de-escalation, containment, medical emergencies and immediate medical assistance.
Stated by College of PolicingStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 September 2023.
Action
Use observed scenario assessments, knowledge checks and pass-or-fail decisions to test officers’ responses to acute behavioural disturbance.
Stated by College of PolicingStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 September 2023.
Action
Publish the revised acute behavioural disturbance training package.
Stated by College of PolicingStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 September 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Existing ABD guidance is sufficient; officers should treat displayed symptoms consistently even when they suspect feigned unresponsiveness, so no approach change is supported.
Stated by College of PolicingExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
The College of Policing is responsible for addressing the four concerns concerning personal safety and Acute Behaviour Disturbance training.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Inner West London
Concerns raised2
Insufficient focus in police officer training on symptoms and presentation of mental health conditions
Insufficient focus in police officer training on practical strategies for decision making in mental health situations
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes police training failures specifically affecting recognition or response to mental ill-health, acute behavioural disturbance, epilepsy or other medical crises presenting through behaviour.
