Carson Grimes was convicted of 36 serious sexual offences at Luton Crown Court and was jailed for life with a minimum of 22 years. Most of his victims were aged between 10 and 14.
Bedfordshire Police has seen a huge rise in incidents involving serious attempts of suicide
- Credit: Pexels
A surge in demand on policing to support those struggling with their mental health during the pandemic has come under the spotlight.
In January last year, Bedfordshire Police s contact centre received one incident with a suicide marker, meaning the person had made a serious attempt to take their own life.
Incidents with suicide markers rose to 79 in April that year and to 289 in March this year.
Separately, overall police incidents with a mental health tag increased from 586 in January 2020 to 838 in March.
Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10-16), Bedfordshire Police s mental health street triage team and contact centre featured on BBC Newsnight last Tuesday, highlighting the pressures facing policing due to a rise in people needing mental health care.
Updated
Wednesday, 5th May 2021, 11:54 am
Call handler Kieran Salisbury is among those responding to emergency calls about mental health (BBC Newsnight)
Bedfordshire Police allowed BBC Newsnight to follow the force’s mental health street triage (MHST) team as well as the force s contact centre.
The news reel showcases the pressures facing local policing amid a rise in calls to help people who need mental health care.
The number of police call outs over a serious risk of suicide rose from just one in January 2020 to 79 in April 2020; and to 289 in March 2021 – around nine incidents every day.
Separately, overall police incidents with a mental health tag increased from 586 in January 2020 to 838 in March.
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Watch our report from ITV News Correspondent Geraint Vincent
Winds stronger than 80mph and floods hit Britain, as Storm Bella swept across the country on Boxing Day.
Further downpours are due, with the Met Office adding 15-25mm is likely to fall in Wales and south-west England, and up to 40-60mm over some hills.
A gust of wind has been recorded at 83mph in the coastal village of Aberdaron in north Wales, the Met Office said, as Storm Bella began to batter the UK.
Parts of the country are already sodden after recent wet weather and flooding, with residents in more than 1,300 properties along the River Great Ouse in Bedfordshire were advised to leave their homes as water levels rose on Christmas Day.