Wiltshire Police is working with partners to roll out a national operational model aiming to ensure vulnerable people get the right support from the right agency when they need it.

Right Care Right Person (RCRP) approach was pioneered by Humberside Police using the strategy of deploying police officers to only the most essential mental health-related calls - and diverting the rest of the cases to dedicated health professionals. 

Wiltshire Police has been working closely with partners across the health and wellbeing landscape in the county for the last ten months on the introduction of RCRP.

PCC Philip Wilkinson said: “It is absolutely vital vulnerable people experiencing mental health crisis in our communities are able to access the best medical support available, through the right routes and from trained, healthcare, professionals.

“We are all in agreement that police officers, who are not mental health professionals, should not be used to fill that void unless there is an immediate threat to life.

“Our organisations are fortunate to have a close, working, relationship with health partners and Wiltshire Police has been implementing elements of the RCRP approach for some time, using a mental health triage team based within Wiltshire Police’s call centre to help support vulnerable people in their time of need.

“Within Wiltshire, we can see the real benefits of this approach - it is not about removing a policing service but ensuring the right agency deals with the vulnerable person in the first place. 

“I will be asking for Wiltshire Police to continually review how this approach is being used in communities and will be asking the Chief Constable for her assurances around this approach and its implementation.”

A national partnership agreement has since been signed at ministerial level for Right Care Right Person to be rolled out across all police areas.

Right Care Right Person will not stop the police attending incidents where there is a threat to life or risk of immediate serious harm to an individual. We have a duty to protect our communities and we will continue to do so.

Within the Wiltshire Police area, the first phase of Right Care Right Person will be implemented from Monday 8 April.

This first phase will apply to calls for service about concern for the welfare of a person, those who have walked out of a healthcare setting and people who are absent without leave (AWOL) from mental health services.

A second phase will follow relating to medical incidents including requests for transportation of patients.

Temporary Chief Superintendent, Force Operations and the Crime and Communications Centre, David Minty said: “Right Care Right Person is focused on giving the most appropriate and beneficial care to members of our communities. There are circumstances where our partners are best placed to offer support to vulnerable people.”

Right Care Right Person will not stop the police attending incidents where there is a threat to life or risk of immediate serious harm to an individual. We have a duty to protect our communities and we will continue to do so.

Within the Wiltshire Police area, the first phase of Right Care Right Person will be implemented from Monday 8 April.

This first phase will apply to calls for service about concern for the welfare of a person, those who have walked out of a healthcare setting and people who are absent without leave (AWOL) from mental health services.

A second phase will follow relating to medical incidents including requests for transportation of patients.

The Right Care Right Person model will not be applicable to children when it is initially rolled out within the Wiltshire Police area.

Wiltshire Police is working closely with partner agencies to deliver Right Care Right Person. The College of Policing is also supporting the implementation across all police force areas with a national toolkit including operational guidance.

Gill May, Chief Nurse, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “A mental health crisis is every bit a medical emergency as a severe physical injury, and it’s only right that vulnerable people in these challenging situations are cared for appropriately and in environments that can ensure their wellbeing is maintained.

“The NHS has a close working relationship with local police colleagues, and we will continue to work together to ensure the Right Care, Right Person programme is implemented safely and securely.”

Mathew Page, Chief Operating Officer at the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust said “We support the principle of ensuring that people should receive a health response to a health issue. When someone is unwell and experiencing a mental health crisis they need the care of a trained health professional who is equipped to offer the most appropriate support.  

“We have long standing good working relationship with Wiltshire Police, which will continue within the requirements of Right Care Right Person. Working together we will ensure that we recognise where the support of the police is required.”

More information about Right Care Right Person is available on the Wiltshire Police website by visiting www.wiltshire.police.uk