Information sharing and SOP on dealing with mental health

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.023296

I note you seek access to the following information:

• A copy of this police force's protocol for exchanging information about a service users mental health condition with NHS trusts and the CPS.
• Is there a specific protocol for the forces triage scheme? If so, a copy or outline of this.

Moreover:
• An outline of, or document describing what training is given to officers surrounding data protection laws?
• How is information about a person’s mental health condition stored by this force, what is the protocol surrounding this and for how long can it be retained?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

- A copy of this police force's protocol for exchanging information about a service users mental health condition with NHS trusts and the CPS.

Information sharing is covered by the Adult Safeguarding DSA but the NHS provide the statement regarding the person’s mental health condition not the police.

Mental Health services are provided across London by nine different Mental Health Trusts funded by separate Clinical Commissioning Groups, NHS England (London) and Public Health England. Each Trust provides a mental health advice line which front line officers, custody staff and call handlers can access, but the availability and specification of the Mental Health advice lines vary across the Trusts. In 2019 NHS England (London) launched a single access number for all 3 London Police Forces which, using existing telephony networks transfers the officer to the local mental health advice line from where they are calling negating the need for officers to know all 9 numbers or which Trust area they are within. Some of the Trust advice lines are 24/7 with dedicated call handlers, whereas others are routed to a specific job role such as Bed Co-ordinator who would only advise on S136 MHA. As they are all separate Trusts they can only access information about patients known to their own Trust.

- Is there a specific protocol for the forces triage scheme? If so, a copy or outline of this.

Any street triage schemes are provided by the Trusts and the applicant would need to request details from them.

- An outline of, or document describing what training is given to officers surrounding data protection laws?

All officers receive the same Data Protection training, Information and You. The online training course is mandatory to all officers and advises personnel how to record, store, share and process personal and operationally sensitive information, in accordance to the Data Protection Act 2018, other legislation, MPS guidelines and the Management of Police Information (MOPI) guidance.

- How is information about a person’s mental health condition stored by this force, what is the protocol surrounding this and for how long can it be retained?

The MPS do not routinely hold information about a person’s mental health condition. We may deal with people who are mentally unwell but we do not hold records of their actual conditions.