Police: Perception and experience from People with Mental Illness
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Police Encounters: Perception and experience from People with Mental Illness
IRAS ID
325348
Contact name
Chu Kelvin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cumbria, Northumbria, Tyne & Wear NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
220296982, Student Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 28 days
Research summary
Police in England have been experiencing increased calls for service in relation to people with mental illness, evidenced by the continued rise of mental health detentions under the Mental Health Act 1983 (National Statistics, 2017). The continued increase of police contact is expected to rise. With this in mind, providing better emergency care and service to people with mental illness is of increasing importance. In order to provide better service, understanding how people with mental illness perceive police interaction is paramount.
This study will address this issue by exploring the experience of people who have come into contact with the police, where this is connected in some way to their mental illness or neurodiversity (referred collectively as “people with mental illness”). By investigating their recollection and reconstruction of interactions with the police using complementary perspectives, this study will further explore the ways various factors (such as words, gestures, tone of voice, posture, location, etc.) play a part in enhancing the meanings that participants’ utilise in understanding these interactions.
Adults aged over 18, able to consent, formally or informally diagnosed with mental illness currently or in the past and have interacted with the police at least once in the past three (3) years are eligible for this study. Participants will be invited to one 1-hour qualitative interview providing their perceptions and experience on their interaction with the police. This study will be conducted in North East England at CNTW NHS Trust locations, Newcastle University, or online. This study will interview approximately 30 participants from October 1st, 2023 to May 30th, 2024. This study is self-funded and is conducted in partial fulfilment of a PhD degree. Recruitment will be conducted through Recovery College Collective, Northumbria Street Triage Team, and the CNTW Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NE/0227
Date of REC Opinion
19 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion