DEVON and Cornwall Police have been invited this week to be one of four pilot force areas in England to run a ground breaking mental health project in 2013/14.

Whether the scheme, named by police as Street Triage, will be operating in West Devon and East Cornwall is yet to be determined.

The HM Inspectorate of Constabulary initiative 'Street Triage' will see clinical mental health staff accompany police to emergency responses.

The clinical staff are then on hand to help officers decide on the best option for individuals in crisis, by offering professional advice on the spot, accessing health information systems, and helping to liaise with other care services to identify the right kind of support required.

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said: 'This pilot is really welcome news that will enable us to continue to develop processes and learn how our officers and staff can work more closely with our health colleagues to ensure those who are identified as having mental health problems get the support they need. 

'Not only is this the morally right thing to do, it will help us to make better use of the limited public resources we have to keep our communities safe.'

He added: 'Police cells are clearly not a place for individuals with complex mental health issues who need support from medically trained professionals, not police officers.

'We must make better use of medical expertise to protect and give a better service to those vulnerable people.'

Asked whether West Devon will be included in this pilot scheme a police spokesperson said: 'It is early days and not yet been put into action but we will be looking at all of Devon and Cornwall to see where the Street Treage can be best used to the benefit of the area.'