To all those wondering why police aren't investigating crime

[stillvicarinatutu]

Prompted by a discussion on here.

I'm a police officer and today we received an email from out chief constable to say that only 17% of incidents police in our force attend are for crime .

The other 83% are non crime related - mainly mental health issues. Police forces are now taking on the work of other agencies which means that they are not dealing with crime .

Partner agencies are so stretched the fall out is now being dealt with by police because we don't shut shop, don't only work 9-5 , and cannot say no .

I read and see regularly that police are criticised for not dealing with crime .

Well - this is why . Because we are picking up the slack from mental health, social services and medical incidents.

I think it's time for people to decide what they want from their police . If we weren't dealing with the 83 % of incidents that are not crime related then perhaps we could spend more time on the 17% that are . ?
I don't think people realise that this is happening to this extent .

[Kite22]

Well, there could be an argument that many crimes happen because of mental health issues, social issues etc, but yes, that aside, is the issue with all our publicly funded agencies.
That is the issue there are no ambulances / paramedics to respond in a timely manner to those who need them - not because there aren't sufficient ambulances, but they are tied up not being able to hand over patients, or dealing with people who social care don't have the capacity to support
Health visitors can't do the 'universal work' they would want to, because they are completely tied up in their child protection work
Teachers can't actually teach the way they'd like to, because so much time and energy goes in to covering Social care and mental health issues (including things like housing and getting families enough food to eat)
and so the list goes on.

Until "society" votes to put a Gvmnt into power that is willing to support the vulnerable in society, the problem will just continue to get bigger and bigger, now matter how much smoke and mirrors are used to try and pretend it isn't happening.

[Florenz]

Why don't the police deal with crime instead of mental health issues?

[Keyansier]

If the police are only dealing with 17% of the crime, that's on the police, not the general public. Why are you finger wagging on MN for?

[ThatGirlInACountrySong]

I saw the thread @stillvicarinatutu and I wholeheartedly agree with you

Glad you spoke out

[Brefugee]

who are you voting for?

[CatGrins]

@Keyansier

If the police are only dealing with 17% of the crime, that's on the police, not the general public. Why are you finger wagging on MN for?

That's not what the OP said. Maybe read again....

[Nidan2Sandan]

@Florenz

Why don't the police deal with crime instead of mental health issues?

Because they get called to these incidents. If a mentally unwell person is threatening to jump off a bridge, who attends? I can guarantee it isnt a mental health support worker, or a social worker, it's the Police.

If a mentally unwell person is being verbally abusive to a neighbour who gets called, the police not the support worker or the social worker.

Police are called for idiot arguments, neighbour disputes, noise. You only have to read on MN and see all the "log it with 101 OP" to see how often the Police are called.

It isnt on the Police that only 17% are attended, it's on the general public believing the Police are there to solve all our problems.

[AnneLovesGilbert]

I think it's time for people to decide what they want from their police

To fight crime and pursue justice for the victims of crime. Obviously.

It’s no one’s fault if they’re suffering from mental health issues and the usual support services aren’t there. It’s no one’s fault they’ve had a crime committed against them or their property and the police aren’t interested in protecting them.

How much time do you spend harassing people for being mean about paedophiles and letting masked armed men abuse women speaking about having their rights eroded? Stop doing that and you might have more time to arrest rapists and murderers. The important stuff.

[blockpavingismynightmare]

And the police need to put their own house in order stopping the misogyny and the racism and that's only the tip of the iceberg

[Georgeskitchen]

There would probably be a drop in mental health issues if the government/police got a grip on the enormous drug problems that we seem to have acquired over the past few years

[jsof595]

All too busy nicking teenagers smoking a little bit of weed and pulling over people who are enthusiastic about cars...

[Florenz]

The police need to prioritise properly. I know they're underfunded but fighting crime should always be the priority for the police force.

[worriedatthistime]

Yes surprising that so many social workers still are 9-5 and not more evening and weekend cover
More money needs to go into mental health services or be used to provide specialist poilce services

[worriedatthistime]

@Florenz well like it or not it is illegal so they have a duty and drugs leads to many crimes, drug driving is also a thing
By car enthusiast do you mean driving ilegal or putting illegal things on your car as again all illegal

[Beachsidesunset]

I worked for an emergency service and the buck-passing was terrible. GP to ambulance, ambulance to police, social services to hospital. That was 20 years ago, it must be even worse now. The only service that isn't stretched, due to improvements in safety, is Fire. I do think a US-style system of Fire also being medical first responders is worth exploring.

[LiftyLift]

This thread show EXACTLY why the public don’t understand. People seem to think the police and individual officers have any say over how their time is spent.

When someone calls the police saying they’re suicidal, the police go. They can’t just not turn up, even if the 23 times beforehand they just want attention.

Lots of people with MH issues go missing purposefully too. You wouldn’t believe the resources put in to look for someone who is missing, often with no intent of harming themselves but still a risk to themselves.

[stillvicarinatutu]

What I'm saying is for every 100 incidents called in to the police only 17 of those are for actual crimes - it's not that we are only attending 17% - it's that only 17% of the calls for our service are crime related.

[purpleboy]

I have zero confidence in the police, I would not call them unless I literally had no choice. I know a fair few police officers and I wouldn't want to deal with a single one on a personal level.

[CatGrins]

@purpleboy

I have zero confidence in the police, I would not call them unless I literally had no choice. I know a fair few police officers and I wouldn't want to deal with a single one on a personal level.

Don't then. I can't see how they would care?

[NameChangeNameChangeNameChangeName]

As you acknowledge this is a TAAT, you could be clearer in what you think the solution to this is? On the thread you mention, you ae blaming the people experiencing mental health crises. I don't blame them, I blame the government for decimating all the services, health as well as police.

[blockpavingismynightmare]

@CatGrins · Today 14:29
purpleboy · Today 14:28
I have zero confidence in the police, I would not call them unless I literally had no choice. I know a fair few police officers and I wouldn't want to deal with a single one on a personal level.
Don't then. I can't see how they would care?

Well that was helpful. Isn't there always some smart arse like you on here

[LuffleGro]

Likewise, people who work in schools are dealing with mental health issues and filling the gaps left by social services. See also hospital beds full of people that should be in social care.

Social services, care services and mental health services have been woefully underfunded and neglected and now the other services are having to pick up the pieces which just shows how short-sighted underfunding these things is.

[OriginalUsername2]

So what do you want us public to do about it, specifically?

[Newnameforthistopic]

Until "society" votes to put a Gvmnt into power that is willing to support the vulnerable in society, the problem will just continue to get bigger and bigger, now matter how much smoke and mirrors are used to try and pretend it isn't happening.
No, NO, NO. Much of this is not for us or Government departments to manage. It is the responsibility of families and of course the people themselves.
We have worked and saved and spent time and money on our own children and older relatives.
Don't take even more of my money subsidising the wastrels and rif-raf of society who don't bother.

[Fudgemaker]

Police Forces are now so risk averse because people automatically blame the police if things go wrong even if other organisations are responsible. Members of staff in police contact centres and control rooms are constantly under the threat of ending up in a coroners court or being sacked for negligence that they feel they cannot say no to callers or re-route to more appropriate organisations and therefore incidents go for deployment of precious resources which aren't crime by any stretch of the imagination