PSNI to stop responding to mental health welfare checks unless risk to life, harm or crime involved
New Right Care Right Person policy aims to route calls to other services; concerns raised over resources
From the start of November, the Police Service of Northern Ireland will stop carrying out concern-for-welfare checks unless there is a risk to life or harm, or a crime is involved, under a new policy called Right Care Right Person. The change, which has been in place among some forces in England and Wales since 2023, is intended to ensure individuals receive care from the most appropriate professional, but health and social care representatives have raised concerns about whether there are sufficient resources to implement it safely.