ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the research context of mental health and policing as well as the ethical issues of researching the field. It also outlines the importance of carrying out research in a UK context into these issues. The incidence of mental health problems is subject to fear, stigma and prejudice, and as a result of this, carrying out research in this area can feel fraught with ethical issues. The most common research method is the use of police data. Laidlaw et al. (2010) carried out a study using police data from the county of Gloucestershire. This study highlights the issues faced by police officers in the wider context of society, with officers highlighting the frustration caused by lack of mental health services, and the emotional toll of sitting with someone for an extended period just to see them released without treatment or admission. Mental health is a difficult area to study, were the population will experience mental health problems.
