Police report challenges in handling individuals with mental health issues in Faroe Islands

Sten Nørskov, the chief police inspector, has acknowledged that individuals with severe mental health issues sometimes end up in police custody, primarily due to their difficult circumstances. “However, it is always a doctor who assesses whether the individual is well enough to stay in detention or if they require hospitalization,” he added.

There has been ongoing discussion for several years about the need for a psychiatric emergency unit in the Faroe Islands, which would provide assistance to those experiencing crises during off-hours. Despite these talks, such a facility has not yet been established.

Earlier this year, a political decision was made to enhance the role of on-call doctors by providing access to a psychiatric hotline. Nevertheless, reports continue to emerge about individuals whose mental health struggles are severe enough that police need to send an officer to assist them.

This raises questions about the protocols in place when police respond to individuals who are significantly impaired mentally and pose a risk to themselves or others. Sten Nørskov has been asked to elaborate on the procedures followed by law enforcement in these grave circumstances.