The Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, Joy Allen, is calling for mental health to be treated as a community safety issue to ensure individuals in crisis receive appropriate support. Writing in the wake of Mental Health Awareness Week, which ran from 11-17 May 2026, the commissioner highlighted the significant impact of mental health demand on local policing.
National estimates suggest that around 20% of policing demand is linked to mental health and vulnerability. Locally, the Durham Constabulary control room receives more than 1,000 calls a day from across County Durham and Darlington, with officials qualifying approximately 10% of all those incidents as mental health related.
Commissioner Allen is advocating for the Right Care, Right Person approach to better manage these demands. “The Right Care, Right Person approach is clear: police should act where there is an immediate threat to life or serious harm, but they should not be the default response to every mental health need,” she said. This model aims to ensure that people experiencing a crisis are supported by the right professionals at the right time.
As part of her role, Commissioner Allen holds the force to account regarding the treatment of vulnerable people, including the scrutiny of custody practices and Section 136 powers. She also emphasized the importance of supporting the mental health of police officers and staff who face traumatic situations daily. “We must also recognise the impact this work has on our police officers and staff themselves,” she added. “Behind the uniform are human beings carrying those experiences home with them. Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of officers and staff is therefore essential.”
Mental Health Awareness Week, organised by the Mental Health Foundation, served as the platform for these calls to action. Commissioner Allen noted that mental health remains a key priority in her local police and crime plan.
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