A mental health expert will join police attending incidents involving someone suffering a crisis as part of a pilot project in Thanet.

The street triage scheme, which began on Friday, is to focus on providing the best and most appropriate care for those suffering a crisis.

It will run across the coming months at times when the demand for police at mental health-related incidents is greater than usual.

Last year, police in Kent detained a total of 1,256 people under section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

Chief Superintendent Rachel Curtis of Kent Police said: "The street triage scheme will mean a qualified medical professional attending mental health related incidents in Thanet that have been reported to the police.

"Our police officers receive mental health training the same way they receive first aid training but they are not medical experts.

"The pilot will mean those in crisis will receive qualified medical help and the officers will have on-the-scene advice from an expert to make informed decisions.

"The number one priority here is making sure those suffering a mental health crisis get the most appropriate care and treatment."

The street triage scheme has been set up with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), and is the latest measure put in place alongside police to address mental health in police incidents in the county.

In 2014, a Mental Health Concordat was set up to help organisations get a better understanding of mental health issues, and work is underway in preparation of law changes which mean only in exceptional circumstances will adults suffering a mental health crisis be taken in police custody.

KMPT’s Director of Transformation, Vincent Badu, said: "We are delighted to be involved in the delivery of this pilot scheme, which will offer a local response to anyone in crisis.

"The scheme demonstrates the importance of partnership working and, through the Concordat, we have agreed joint outcomes and measures which will enable us to capture all the improvements achieved.".

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott said: "Cases involving mental health now amount for around a third of Kent Police time.

"I am pleased to see the return of a street triage scheme. I will be keeping a close eye on the scheme to see whether it helps deliver against the priorities set out within my Safer in Kent Plan.

"I also continue to welcome bids to my Mental Health and Policing Fund from projects which free up police officers’ time while also ensuring that people in mental health crisis get the right support from the right person."

Mr Scott, who also serves as the deputy mental health spokesman for the national Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: "The increased time police spend dealing with mental health is unsustainable nationally so I will be discussing the triage outcomes with my fellow PCCs and Government so that other force areas can decide whether they wish to replicate this scheme in their own communities."