FOI 444020
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 444020
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 21st November 2025. Please find below the response to your request:
Street Triage refers to a service where police officers work in collaboration with mental health professionals (e.g., NHS staff or crisis teams) to respond to incidents involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
Does your police force operate a Street Triage scheme as defined above?
(Yes/No)
If yes, does the Street Triage scheme cover the entire geographic area of your force?
Please provide the number of Street Triage incidents for each year as follows: 2021; 2022; 2023; 2024.
If data is unavailable for any of these years, kindly indicate this accordingly.
Is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training mandatory for frontline officers in your force?
(Yes/No)
If not, what mental health training is currently provided to frontline officers instead of (or in addition to) MHFA?
Please include:
The name or type of training
Whether it is mandatory or optional
Reply
West Mercia Police hold some of the information you have requested
Q. Does your police force operate a Street Triage scheme as defined above?
(Yes/No)
No
Around 2015 West Mercia trialled Street Triage, primarily in Telford. The initiative lasted approximately for 6 months and finished when the funding stopped.
Various other trials have been tried working with mental health team. Currently in the South of West Mercia covering North/South Worcestershire and Herefordshire,
officers should ring the Crisis team when considering using their Mental Health powers to resolve a person in crisis.
In the South there is a form that tracks this which the Crisis Teams in Worcestershire and Herefordshire complete.
From 20/04/2024 when the process went live there were at least 343 partnership interactions of the Police contacting NHS Crisis team partners to discuss if a person requires detaining or an alternative diversion is available.
If yes, does the Street Triage scheme cover the entire geographic area of your force?
Q. Please provide the number of Street Triage incidents for each year as follows: 2021; 2022; 2023; 2024.
If data is unavailable for any of these years, kindly indicate this accordingly.
N/A
Q. Is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training mandatory for frontline officers in your force?
(Yes/No)
No
Q. If not, what mental health training is currently provided to frontline officers instead of (or in addition to) MHFA?
Please include:
The name or type of training
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) - Classroom based. 2 days in duration. Aimed at Officers and staff in a supervisory role. Must be refreshed every 5 years
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Awareness - Classroom based. ½ day duration. Aimed at anyone.
Mental Health and the Police - Aimed at the whole force (including staff and officers of all ranks)