Chamber and committees

You said that it is not just about health, but what more do we need from the NHS at the board level, noting, of course, the changes that are proposed in the programme for government? We are likely to be going through a period of significant change. What do you need from other partners? Their resources are more significant than yours. Do not get me wrong: the demands that are placed on them are high, but if we, as a nation, are serious about investing to save, enabling the police service to deliver at its fullest capacity and reducing demand that, in effect, it does not want and should not have, we need to do these things together.

It is very helpful for us to be more aware of that. Convener, perhaps we can follow up on the Humberside model and establish what progress has been made on that here.

Following on from that, Mr O’Neill, you spoke earlier in response to my colleague Amanda Bland—excuse me if I misquote you; I do not intend to—about there still being gaps, when she referred to the Forth Valley and Edinburgh areas still not being provided for in the way that is being recommended and progressed elsewhere. Are the gaps due to a resource issue or, because there is so much reliance on third sector partnership, are they due to capacity reasons? Should NHS boards be taking a more national approach? How do we get to a position where full service provision is in place as soon as possible for the benefit of the individuals whom we serve and the demands that are placed on our police service?

All that is understood and considered. The committee is determined to seek solutions and help to progress improvements so that we can fill the gaps that you talked about. I note the progress that has been made, but how do we get to a position in which all 31 partnerships are involved? How do we have a complete picture, or as near a complete picture as is practicable, as soon as possible?

I want to follow up some of the questions that colleagues have asked. However, first of all, I want to thank you, and any front-line officers who are listening, for all that you do in communities to meet the various strains of demand. I know from my constituency work how challenging it is and how much time is taken up by non-criminal demands. That has been made clear today, and those of us who represent constituencies and regions in this Parliament know that things are really challenging out there.

ACC Paton, you mentioned the update that you gave in February 2026, but a lot of this goes back to February 2025, when the distress framework for collaboration—that multi-agency partnership approach—was agreed along with the collaborative commitments plan. Thinking about all the issues that others around the committee table have probed you on, which you have helpfully addressed, I wonder how we can help you to find solutions.

Obviously, our job is to hold to account not only services such as yours but the Government. I note that the health and social care budget for 2026-27 is nearly £22 billion, that the local government budget is nearly £12 billion and that the justice system as a whole is getting £4 billion. If we can utilise some of the resource in those other portfolios to reduce the demands on you, we will get better utilisation and productivity from our police service on the ground and, I hope, fewer officers feeling the way that my colleague has described.

If there is anything that you have not been able to say about how we can help you and those in your organisation to press for solutions, please tell us now. How can we press other agencies, other services and other ministers in this place?

When you say that, as convincingly as you just did, to NHS boards, what is their response?

It is not consistent.

In relation to those places being secure, I know, from my constituency work in Edinburgh, of officers who have to stay on site because other members of the public sector do not feel safe without an officer there. How do we deal with that?

May I also start with you, Mr McInulty? You mentioned earlier the risk of somebody becoming a missing person if they are taken to A and E or another NHS or healthcare facility and not maintained within that facility for an adequate amount of time. When I have spoken to officers here in Edinburgh they have relayed their concern, not just about the person’s wellbeing and safety but about the resource deployment in Police Scotland when additional officers and resources have to be sent out to locate somebody who is reported as a missing person. Do you want to say a bit more about that, based on your investigations? It is important for us to hear more about that.

11:15

We look forward to receiving any figures about that in due course.

Mr Lenehan, do you want to add anything on that, or based on the points that you made earlier?

Yes, or about personnel and capacity.

That is very helpful. Thank you.

May I ask one last question, deputy convener?