Met Police 'must review handling mentally ill suspects' 10 May 2013 Last updated at 11:05 An independent review of the way the Metropolitan Police deals with mentally ill suspects has identified a series of failings. The Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing urges the Met to make improvements to procedures for using force, dealing with calls and keeping records. It reviewed 55 cases involving people with mental health issues over the past five years. The force is yet to respond. Of the 55 cases reviews, five were deaths in police custody and 45 deaths were either prior to or following contact with the police. The other five cases resulted in serious injury. A key finding was people with mental health issues complained they were "treated like criminals by the police" and were handled with "too much force." Reassure families Commission chair, Lord Victor Adebowale, said: "Whilst a report like this cannot take away their suffering, I hope that those who receive this report, ensure that the recommendations are implemented in the name of the families as citizens who have lost loved ones in terrible circumstances. They deserve the reassurance that other families will not suffer the same loss. The Commission has sought to provide actionable recommendations, so that there is a real opportunity for the Metropolitan Police Service [MPS] to change their approach significantly to those with mental health issues in their everyday policing. The report acknowledges that the MPS cannot do all of this on its own. The report also recommended the London Ambulance Service (LAS) needed to respond to individuals with "a clear mental health crisis" as an emergency even if the police were present. 'Unsuitable' force Sean Rigg, 40, who was schizophrenic, died from a cardiac arrest at Brixton police station in August 2008. An inquest jury in August last year found officers had used "unsuitable" force after arresting Mr Rigg before his death on 21 August, 2008. Following the inquest Met Police Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne apologised "unreservedly" for the death and the IPCC launched a review of the case. Two serving and one retired Met police officers have been arrested as part of the investigation into Mr Rigg's death.