Right Care, Right Person

In England and Wales, the Right Care, Right Person approach assesses if the police are the most appropriate service to respond.

While some mental health related incidents may need the police, other services may be more appropriate. Health and social care staff have the experience and training to provide the relevant physical and mental health support.

The aim of the approach is:

Police forces using this approach have already benefited by being able to provide more appropriate responses.

In England, police and partner agencies have signed a National Partnership Agreement. They will work together to ensure people get the right support. Their regular meetings allow knowledge sharing and improved services.

This agreement is between:

In Wales, the agreement is between police and partner agencies. They have formed a National Partnership Group.

This includes:

They will work together to help get people the right support.

Please note: British Transport Police have not adopted Right Care Right Person and are reviewing how they respond to mental health incidents under the "Mental Health Crisis to Care" project.

When the police can help

If we are the most appropriate service, we will attend when there is:

We’ll still respond to reports of crime in the usual way.

We will always attend when we are the right service to respond. We assess every request against things like threat, harm, risk, and vulnerability. The Right Care, Right Person approach becomes part of this process.

Further information

Read the Policy paper: National Partnership Agreement: Right Care, Right Person (RCRP)

See the College of Policing Right Care, Right Person toolkit

Assisting police with essential information

When it is appropriate to respond, there are tools to help the police find the right information sooner.

Vulnerable people at risk of going missing.