ABSTRACT
With increasing international recognition of the commonality and complexities of contacts between the police and people experiencing mental illness, a range of models of police response have been developed, trialled and, to various degrees, implemented. The most common models of response include specialist training, co-responder models, and mental health first-aid training. Each model has its nuances along with its purported strengths and limitations. Perhaps surprisingly, the evidence base for these different models remains limited. As a consequence, a policing service looking to adopt an evidence-based response will struggle to navigate what remains a somewhat disparate literature. This chapter will outline the main models of police response being used internationally and consider the merits and practicalities of each.
