AN innovative mental health service that was launched in Dorset last year is successfully reducing the number of times a custody suite is used as a place of safety for those suffering a mental health crisis.

To mark mental health awareness week during May, Dorset Police have updated their 101 hold message to ensure the vulnerable receive the right care when coming into contact with policing services.

Every year during the second week of May, the Mental Health Foundation raises awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues.

It is estimated that as many as one in six people will have a mental health issue at any one time which in Dorset means around 130,000 people.

Martyn Underhill, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner said: "Here in Dorset we have been running a mental health street triage scheme since June last year."

"This scheme is designed to assist police officers by giving officers as much information and advice as possible when they are called to people in crisis across the County.

"Where appropriate it provides access to community-based services, thereby ensuring that individual health and social care needs are known and provided for by appropriate services.

"As well as this, Dorset runs a Liaison and Diversion service, which is designed to assess and divert those that are mentally ill from criminalisation.

In addition, all frontline staff will also be receiving training in how best to interact with those suffering a mental health crisis in the next few weeks."