Navigating the legal crossroads : the need for enhanced police training for mental health crisis interventions in Malta

Abstract

This dissertation will critically examine the adequacy of current Maltese legislation governing the intersection between law enforcement and individuals experiencing mental health crises in Malta. With the continuously increasing encounters between police officers and those with mental health issues, this study will identify significant gaps in existing protocol and training of policies officers, underscoring the urgent need for legal reforms. A detailed review of the Mental Health Act and the Police Act, in addition to pertinent international laws such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be conducted, revealing deficiencies in the provisions for police training and guidelines for handling mental health crises. Additionally, a comparative Analysis with international best practices will be undertaken to compare Malta’s current strategies against global standards, and identify effective training programmes and intervention strategies employed internationally. This dissertation will also analyse two case studies in order to illustrate the consequences of current training deficiencies, and underscoring both legal and operational failures in scenarios where police officers interact with individuals experiencing a mental health crises. Based on thorough legislative review and international comparisons, specific legal reforms aimed at enhancing police training on mental health crisis interventions in Malta will be proposed. Recommendations will focus on integrating comprehensive crisis intervention training into the Malta Police Force, establishing collaborative protocols with mental health services, and incorporating international human rights standards into national legislation.