Michael Brown OBE 🌍
@mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
1.8K followers 610 following 700 posts
Associate Lecturer in Criminology @worcesteruni.bsky.social | PhD candidate @unibirmingham.bsky.social | policing, mental health and criminal justice | coffee & cycling.
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mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
If anyone thinks they know which two cases the IOPC is referring to here, I'd be grateful for a nudge, and I'll treat any suggestions in full confidence.

I've attempted to identify them via potential PFD notices and other online searches but no success so far.

3/3
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
I'm so far aware of x2 RCRP related deaths in the WYP area and neither of them fit the descriptions given of the two deaths in the IOPC recommendations in the links.

I'm aware of Paul Alexander and of Martin Waite so this document suggests to me, there could be two others.

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mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
Just come across these recommendations by @policeconduct to @WestYorksPolice after two deaths where RCRP training and implementation are relevant -

Short thread seeking some assistance if anyone can help? -

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www.policeconduct.gov.uk/our-work/lea...
Recommendations - West Yorkshire Police, May 2025 | Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
www.policeconduct.gov.uk
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
This is all kinds of sad —

Mental health detention over children's deaths in Stafford.

It has also been referred to ⁦‪@policeconduct‬⁩ because off”prior police contact”.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Mental health detention over children's deaths in Stafford
Meraj Ul Zahra, two, and Abdul Momin Alfaateh, three, were found on Sunday.
www.bbc.co.uk
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
No, he's not on here - I think he's a one platform kind of man.
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
It’s just duplication, so don’t waste too much time reading both!
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
More people living with mental health problems in Northern Ireland, greater acuity and complexity and yet less funding than any other part of the UK or Ireland.

And all announced on "World Mental Health Day" - you couldn't make it up.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Stormont scaling back mental health strategy is 'devastating'
It is estimated £1.2bn is needed to implement the 35 actions initially set out in 2021.
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by Michael Brown OBE 🌍
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
As usual, nothing from me on "world mental health day" - the annual tendency to remember we might need to "do something" (whatever that means) and "raise awareness" (whatever that means), might be why some spend 365 days a year wondering why little changes.
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
Nailed it.

And for the same reason I dislike the word and hate being described as a “vulnerable” road user because I cycle.

I’m only vulnerable to other people’s idiot driving!
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
This week I’ve seen a number of things about “policing” and “vulnerability” which doesn’t mention mental health even once.

Books, academic modules and conferences - and yet no treatment of a topic often at the very front of discussion about policing and its role or legitimacy.
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
Police watchdog staff comments on Nottingham attacks inquiry 'inhumane', says attack victim’s mother.

The IOPC is investigating the police and is now, itself, being investigated.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Police watchdog staff comments on Nottingham attacks inquiry 'inhumane'
An investigation by the watchdog into Leicestershire Police officers was reopened in March.
www.bbc.co.uk
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
Last year was the first decrease for years - 10% on the year before. I suspect that will be repeated and @policechiefs explained it by stating RCRP would have played a significant role.

The problem - several forces introducing RCRP had seen INCREASED use of s136.

3/3
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
We have seen a few PFDs where police had contact with someone where it was likely, if not obvious, grounds for use of s136 were met - but it wasn't used and someone subsequently died by suicide.

For every case like that, how many were similar but ended non-fatally?

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mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
OLD BLOG - "New Section 136 Data"

Almost a year ago, the latest 136 data was published so we should expect a new publication in a week or two.

Will s136 use reduce again? - probably. I would suggest PFDs over the last year are showing something.

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mentalhealthcop.wordpress.com/2024/10/02/n...
New Section 136 Data
The Home Office has caught us all unawares this year with very early publication of their police powers data, which includes use of s136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. It normally comes towards the…
mentalhealthcop.wordpress.com
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
In my PhD database of mental health police contact deaths, this is RCRP MH-PCD no 18 and RCRP PFD no 16.

Emerging theme —

- Non-response to obvious risk
- Deflecting to the ambulance service an incident where the patient’s location is not known.
- IRTL threshold misunderstood.
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
Despite @PoliceChiefs assurances last weekend the police would “always respond” to reports of a mental health incident where there was an “immediate risk to life”, here is another new PFD which suggests otherwise.

The sad death of Charlotte Tetley —

t.co/R7ymLBirjp
https://www.judiciary.uk/prevention-of-future-death-reports/charlotte-tetley-prevention-of-future-deaths-report/
t.co
mentalhealthcop.bsky.social
I’ll leave other comments to tomorrow’s blog, but ask yourself this as you read the PFD report —

Did anyone else wonder why s136 of the Mental Health Act wasn’t used because it could reasonably be foreseen Charlotte might be unlikely to remain in the ED?

Might just be me.

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