Award-winning blogger @MentalHealthCop has been suspended from Twitter pending an investigation by West Midlands Police into how the account is used
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An acclaimed police blogger focusing on mental health policing has had his Twitter account suspended by West Midlands Police after allegations of 'misuse.'
The award winning Mental Health Cop blog and Twitter account are run by Michael Brown, a police inspector.
Brown specialises in mental health policing - using his blog to explain complex issues of mental health law to police officers.
The Mental Health Cop Twitter account was suspended this morning and the blog set to private - though it's thought the blog was removed by Brown himself as it is not owned by the force.
In a statement released this morning, West Midlands Police said the Twitter account had been suspended pending an investigation for 'alleged misuse of a force account'.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Forsyth said 'Our policy is intended to enable officers and staff to communicate with our communities effectively to offer an insight into our work.
'It does impose some restrictions but we are, of course, an organisation that holds sensitive information so we have to ensure that there is some restraint. I also can't imagine any organisation that would want its employees to be openly critical of it - or indeed allow it.'
After he was presented with the Mark Hanson Digital Media award at last year's Mind Media Awards, Brown told the Mind Membership newsletter he'd started the blog to counter a lack of training in the force on subjects surrounding mental health.
'Police officers at all levels told me they wanted an internet resource' he said, 'and it struck me that a blog - Mental Health Cop - would be accessible to all.
'I had just two hours of mental health training, which was frustrating. I think the blog helps fill a gap in training. But the police are getting better all the time and there's increasing appreciation of the importance of getting mental health issues right.'
The decision was met with a wave of anger on Twitter, with legal tweeter David Allen Green describing the account as 'perhaps the best UK police Twitter account for explaining policing.'
Assistant Chief Constable Forsyth has taken to the social network to defend the force's actions this morning, asking users not to rush to judgement.
'I am a fan of what he has done' he said, 'but some things require proportionate investigation.'
Asked how long the investigation would take, he said 'I have directed that it is prompt and proportionate, don't know the answer but would hope it's a matter of days rather than weeks.'
Another police blogger, NightJack, also took down his Twitter account last night, @iofiv, in response to the suspension of Mental Health Cop.
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