Policing, Crime Prevention and the Response to Mental Health Crisis in Mid Scotland and Fife
That the Parliament notes the findings of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland's report, Thematic review of policing mental health in Scotland, which was published in October 2023 and reported that at least half of deployable frontline uniformed officers are regularly engaged in mental health-related calls, a single such call can engage two officers and a vehicle for a full shift and Police Scotland "is filling gaps in the health and social care system in Scotland"; further notes the evidence provided to the Criminal Justice Committee that mental health calls rose from just under 400 per day in 2018 to an average of 666 by the first quarter of 2024, that the officer time absorbed by mental health incidents in 2023-24 was equivalent to 612 full-time constables, which is more than the staffing complement of five local policing divisions, and that approximately 70% of such incidents occur at NHS hospitals; acknowledges the views of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents that present arrangements amount to "mission creep", and of the Scottish Police Federation that handover of mental health crises to the most appropriate service is at best delayed and at worst non-existent; considers that communities across Mid Scotland and Fife are best served by officers who are free to prevent and detect crime, and believes that an individual in mental health crisis is entitled to a response from health professionals with the training, powers and facilities to help them, rather than from the police.
Further details available for S7M-01039
