Crisis intervention: the police response to vulnerable individuals

Police agencies require a specialised response when dealing with individuals who are vulnerable owing to their emotional, mental or physical state. During their time of crisis, these individuals may be irrational and violent due to factors that include suicidal ideation, psychosis, emotional upheaval and the influence of a substance. In a significant number of these cases the police response has resulted in the wounding or death of the vulnerable individual. As a result, police officers require a comprehensive strategy that will provide an emotionally charged individual an opportunity to calm down or, an individual in a drug/alcohol-induced state an opportunity to regain perspective. By way of specialised training, tactics and less-lethal weaponry the police may be able to facilitate a successful intervention to an otherwise tragic event.