ABSTRACT

This book explores the relationship between policing and mental health. Police services around the world are innovating at pace in order to develop solutions to the problems presented, and popular models are being shared internationally. Nevertheless, disparities and perceptions of unfairness remain commonplace. Innovations remain poorly funded and largely unproven.

Drawing together the insights of eminent academics in the UK, the US, Australia and South Africa, the edited collection evaluates the condition of mental health and policing as an interlocked policy area, uncovering and addressing a number of key issues which are shaping police responses to mental health. Due to a relative lack of academic texts pertaining to developments in England and Wales, the volume contains a distinct section on relevant policies and practices. It also includes sections on US and Australian approaches, focusing on Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs), Mental Health Intervention Teams (MHITs), stressors and innovations from Boston in the US to Queensland in Australia.

Written in a clear and direct style, this book will appeal to students and scholars in policing, criminology, sociology, mental health, cultural studies, social theory and those interested in learning about the condition and trajectory of police responses to mental health.

chapter |20 pages

Introduction

section Section I|62 pages

Comparisons between Australia and the UK

chapter Chapter 2|21 pages

Accessing justice for mentally ill people

A comparison of UK and Australian developments

chapter Chapter 3|24 pages

New paradigms of policing mental illness in Australia

The future of ‘mental health street-sweeping’

section Section II|60 pages

Comparisons between the US and the UK

chapter Chapter 4|21 pages

Investment v impact in policing and mental health

What works for police and suspects

chapter Chapter 6|18 pages

Police response to people with mental illnesses in a major US city

The Boston experience with the co-responder model and mental health innovation

section Section III|78 pages

Perspectives from England and Wales

chapter Chapter 8|16 pages

‘This isn’t just a case of taking someone to the hospital’

Police approaches and management of situations involving persons with mental ill health in the custody suite and beyond

chapter Chapter 9|18 pages

Policing, vulnerability and mental health

chapter Chapter 10|20 pages

Policing and mental health

Do we really get it?

section Section IV|89 pages

The mental health of police officers and staff

chapter Chapter 11|18 pages

Police officer and staff well-being and the management of emotions

An ethnographic study of a force control room and frontline response officers

chapter Chapter 12|13 pages

Understanding the mental health and well-being of police officers

Causes, consequences and responses to stressors in police work

chapter |10 pages

Conclusion