Body Cameras/Guidance Resources for Mental Health Units 2018
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.035580
I note you seek access to the following information:
I would like to request the following information, regarding progress in the implementation of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force Act) 2018
1. Please provide me with a copy of the Metropolitan police policy on use of body cameras in regards to the act
2. Please provide me with the format/framework on monitoring on use of body cameras in regards to the act
3. Please provide me with copies of any information and/or guidance resources for officers on the act and body cameras
4. Please provide me with information on training for officers in regards to their responsibilities under the act.
I appreciate your assistance and look forward to hearing from you
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
I would like to request the following information, regarding progress in the implementation of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force Act) 2018
Q1 - Please provide me with a copy of the Metropolitan police policy on use of body cameras in regards to the act.
This can be found under the MPS publication scheme : BWV Policy (met.police.uk)
It includes the Mental Health Units (Use of Force Act) 2018
3k - Hospitals, mental health & social care facilities
• When considering the use of BWV in hospitals, mental health or social care premises, users should be mindful of any collateral intrusion that may occur and aim to minimise this where possible.
• Users can operate BWV without consent whilst lawfully on private premises if they are acting in the execution of their duty and in pursuit of a legitimate (justifiable) aim/policing purpose. Their decision may be informed in part by medical staff input.
• It may be that a mental health situation is a mandatory recording incident for another reason like all other incidents (as detailed in E Operational use of BWV in the MPS).
• Use of force in Mental Health facilities. In accordance with the provisions of the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018
(1) If a police officer is going to a mental health unit on duty that involves assisting staff who work in that unit, the officer must take a body camera if reasonably practicable.
(2) while in a mental health unit on duty that involves assisting staff who work in that unit, a police officer who has a body camera there must wear it and keep it operating at all times when reasonably practicable
Q2 - Please provide me with the format/framework on monitoring on use of body cameras in regards to the act
The BWV team cannot provide any data on this as we do not monitor BWV use in regards to the act.
I can confirm we do not keep records or data about use of BWV in MH incidents.
Q3 - Please provide me with copies of any information and/or guidance resources for officers on the act and body cameras
MPS officer’s obligations under the act are included in the BWV policy (see point 1)
Q4 - Please provide me with information on training for officers in regards to their responsibilities under the act.
MPS officer’s obligations under the act are included in BWV online training, which is completed by all new recruits/joiners to the MPS. We cannot provide copies of the training as it is a digital package hosted on the College of police learning platform, but the below are screen grabs taken from the site.
