HAMPSHIRE police were called to almost 10,000 incidents involving people with a mental health condition in 2016, it was reported.

According to statics released by Parliament Street, officers across the county attended 9,597 call-outs last year making Hampshire Constabulary the 11th highest out of 28 UK forces who responded to a Freedom of Information request.

Across the UK, there were 296,773 incidents involving people with mental health issues in 2016.

Danny Bowman, mental health spokesman for Parliament Street, called the findings shocking.

He said it was time more better funded plan was put in place to ensure people with mental health problems were properly cared for.

A government spokesman said people experiencing a mental health crisis needed the right care in the right place, not a police cell.

He added the government was investing £30 million into providing more alternative places of safety.

He said last year they had more than halved the number of people detained under a mental health section in a police cell and had entirely banned the use of police stations for this purpose for under 18s.