Breaking News English

The UK government has announced a [pilot / driver] scheme to help mentally ill people who have been [arrest / arrested] by the police. Mental health nurses will work in police stations in 10 different [regions / area] across England. The [aim / aims] is to identify those with mental health [issues / issue] as early as possible so they [receive / garner] the correct treatment. The UK's Care and Support minister Norman Lamb explained: "[Diverting / Diversion] the individual away from [offensive / offending] , and helping to reduce the risk of more victims suffering [dew / due] to further offences benefits everyone." The minister in charge of policing, Damian Green, said: "Police officers should be focused [on / in] fighting crimes, and people with mental health conditions should get the care they need as early as possible."

The pilot project could have a big [compact / impact] on how the UK's police force uses [personnel / personal] and resources. Police officers currently spend [towards / up] to 25 per cent of their time dealing with suspected offenders with mental health problems. This is the [equaling / equivalent] of around 26,000 officers. Paul Jenkins of the charity Rethink Mental Illness [welcomed / thanked] the new initiative. He said: "All too [always / often] , the way our criminal justice system [dealings / deals] with people with mental health problems leads to [poor / poverty] outcomes for individuals, and [frustrated / frustration] from police officers…and others." He added: "This initiative has the potential to stop people going unnecessarily to prison, reduce reoffending rates and save millions [on / in] taxpayers' money."