Police have been accused of showing a lack of compassion by readers angry that two mentally ill women were prosecuted for delaying drivers.
The M.E.N revealed yesterday that and given a criminal conviction.
Yesterday morning a 27-year-old woman - who had disappeared from the Meadowbrook psychiatric unit in Salford after a row over her medication and wandered out into traffic on the same motorway earlier this year was dealt with by Magistrates.
It follows a case last Wednesday where a grieving 18 year-old who stood on a ledge over the M602 threatening to jump was blasted in court for causing ‘a massive inconvenience.'
In each of the two cases, the vulnerable women in question had repeatedly been discovered by officers in a similar part of the M602.
GMP say each case is judged on its merits and
However the article prompted a strong reaction from readers, who in the main believed the response was far too heavy handed and that people as desperate as this need more specialist help, not punishment.
Alexandra Rigby said on the M.E.N Facebook page: "I don’t think anyone is gonna think about a fine if they’re planning on killing themselves.
"We should be helping people not disciplining them for being unsuccessful in their time of need surely.. how disgustingly inhumane."
Simon Hewitt said: "The lack of empathy here is staggering. Id rather be delayed and know someone is safe and being cared for."
Kathryn Ann Barlow said: "Make them more determined to succeed then won't it? Brilliant... "
Whilst Jan Cox said: "So money can be found to prosecute them but not help them...
However others said they believed officers were simply doing what they thought was right and said the safety of others must also be taken into account.
Chloe Louise Needham said: "This is a really sensitive subject.
" I completely feel for the person who is so desperate for help they feel this is their only option.
"But I also feel more for the family driving along who ends up hitting the jumper, someone on their way home after a long shift.
"A young child having to witness something so traumatic.. something that could effect their mental health and life for a very long time.. I don’t agree with that also, so I do believe something does need to be done to prevent this.. not sure this is the way but I can see the intention behind it."
Darren Hussey said on Twitter: "I understand mental health but as a truck driver, one of my biggest fears is someone jumping off a bridge & under my truck.
"If people can’t see a way out then jumping on to a motorway and ruining an other person/s life is really the answer??? There are many people to speak too."
With Steve Corcoran adding: "As a train driver, I know how you feel Darren."
A spokesman for GMP said yesterday: “Supporting those most vulnerable is a priority for Greater Manchester Police. We work closely with our partners to ensure people with mental health conditions are assisted in the most appropriate way and pointed in the direction of services that can give them the help they need most.
“Sadly, it is an ever more regular occurrence for suicide threats on the motorway network, often involving the same individual on the same bridge on multiple occasions.
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“Every incident is treated on a case by case basis and a prosecution is rarely a course of action for someone with a mental health condition. We speak to our colleagues in the mental health triage service and take their guidance before we decide on the most appropriate action.
“If a prosecution has been sought the likelihood is that there have been several incidents prior which we have attended and taken a different course of action.
“We will of course review these cases and ensure that the correct decision was made.”
