People in crisis need the right care from the right service - Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has said people experiencing mental ill-health or personal crisis must receive the right care from the right service, and not be left depending on the PSNI as a last resort.
Speaking after the Assembly debated the motion, the party’s social care spokesperson said: “Far too often, the PSNI are being called to situations that are not policing matters but health emergencies. Officers are doing their best, but they are being forced into a role they were never designed or trained for.
“This is not about policing, it’s about people. When someone is in distress or crisis, they deserve a professional health or social care response, not a police response. The focus must always be on getting the right outcome for the person in need.
“Right Care, Right Person is about ensuring that people in crisis are met by trained health professionals, not by police officers. It’s about compassion, safety and common sense.”