An extra £25m of funding has been announced to enable mental health nurses to be based at police stations and courts in the UK.
The funding announced by Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb will ensure people with mental health and substance misuse problems get the right treatment as quickly as possible, which helps reduce re-offending.
The money will be invested over the next year in joining up police and courts with mental health and other services with ten areas across the country testing out a new model of Liaison and Diversion services.
“Too often people with mental health illnesses who come into contact with the criminal justice systems are only diagnosed when they reach prison,” said Norman Lamb.
“We want to help them get the right support and treatment as early as possible. Diverting the individual away from offending and helping to reduce the risk of more victims suffering due to further offences benefits everyone.”
The ten areas to receive the funding are: Merseyside; London; Avon and Wiltshire; Leicester; Sussex; Dorset; Sunderland and Middlesbrough; Coventry; South Essex; and Wakefield.
“We are investing £25 million for liaison and diversion services at police services and courts across the country. These will help identify when someone in a police station or involved in court procedures who has mental health problems are referred to the right mental health services and are given the help and support they need,” added the Minister.
