Police are reviewing the introduction of a controversial plan that would see them not attending some 999 mental health calls in the light of the tragedy in Costessey.
The phased introduction of the scheme called Right Person, Right Care, which aims to reduce the amount of time the police devote to mental health-related jobs, is due to start in Norfolk next month.
But its introduction is now “under review” with the circumstances surrounding the deaths of a father, his two children and sister-in-law to be taken into account, police said.
READ MORE: Revealed - The 999 call before four found dead near Norwich
The bodies of Bartlomiej Kuczynski, 45, his two daughters Jasmin, 12, Natasha, nine, and Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36, were discovered after police were called to Allan Bedford Crescent in Queen's Hills at around 7.15am on Friday.
However, no police officers were sent an hour earlier when Mr Kuczynski made a 999 call expressing concerns for his mental state saying he was confused.
Instead, he was advised to seek medical help.
That response is now being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is also looking into an earlier incident, in December, when Mr Kuczynski went missing.
He was later found by police who took him to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for a mental health assessment. However, it is understood he left before one could be carried out.
Under Right Care, Right Person, a partnership with health agencies would see those calling 999 requiring urgent mental health support receiving care from the most appropriate agency rather than police being called out.
However, officers would continue to attend call-outs if there is a threat to life or a person at risk of serious harm.
READ MORE: Police did not respond to 999 call made an hour before four found dead
A “triage tool” would be used by control room call handlers in making consistent decisions aligned with the police’s duty to act.
The scheme was pioneered by Humberside Police in 2019 and has already been adopted by other forces, including the Metropolitan Police and neighbouring Suffolk.
It is hoped that by diverting people to more appropriate help it could free up hundreds of hours of police officers time to deal with crime.
One in five 999 and 101 calls to police in Norfolk relate to people with mental health issues.
READ MORE: Norfolk mental health ‘alarm’ over police 999 policy change
Mark Harrison, chairman of the Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk, said the deaths in Costessey were “a truly shocking case”.
"We are really worried about this case as it has come before the Right Care, Right Person initiative has been fully implemented, which we fear will make matters worse," he said.
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