Toronto police launch pilot to speed up transfer of care for individuals apprehended under Mental Health Act [Video]

Toronto police are launching a one-year pilot program in collaboration with three Toronto hospital networks to expedite the transfer of care for individuals apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

The Toronto Police Service issued a news release on Wednesday, saying two District Special Constables will now be stationed at hospitals within the University Health Network, Unity Health Toronto and Humber River Health as Integrated Hospital Officers (IHOs).

The constables will assume the transfer of apprehended persons from police officers upon their arrival at the hospitals, the service said in the news release. The program will operate in the emergency departments and will be specific to mental health apprehensions.

Currently, sworn police officers who apprehend someone under the Mental Health Act must remain at the hospital with the apprehended person, often for several hours, the service said.

The pilot will operate 18 hours a day, seven days a week.

Police will …