Crisis intervention teams (CITs)
Evidence-rated crime-reduction intervention (EMMIE).
Effect on crime
mixed evidence
Evidence quality
very strong
What the evidence says
Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) provide training for police officers to improve their interactions with individuals suffering from mental illness, aiming to reduce inappropriate arrests and officer use of force. The evidence shows mixed findings regarding the impact of CITs on crime and reoffending, with no statistically significant effects overall. While some studies suggest a reduction in arrests when officers are CIT trained, other studies indicate increases, highlighting the need for further evaluations of CIT effectiveness.
How it works
CITs educate officers on mental illness, equipping them with de-escalation techniques and mental health resources. This training aims to divert individuals from arrest and reduce the unnecessary use of force by officers during interactions with those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Implementation
The review did not provide details on the implementation of CITs or any challenges faced during their application.
Source: College of Policing Crime Reduction Toolkit (What Works Centre for Crime Reduction). Summarised 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the College of Policing.