Report Summary
A Public Briefing explaining the issues surrounding mental health and policing. This Briefing provides details about the Scottish context along with work being conducted in this area. Published in May 2023.
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Calls for Service
The police are many peoples’ first port of call during a crisis, whether this is happening to them directly or to somebody else. The police service has long being viewed as a service of both first and last resort for people, available 24/7 and with a broad remit to assist the public.
When incidents take place that might have a mental health element to them, the public understandably have concerns and call the police. It is important that people can continue to rely on the police to be the first agency to attend, and who can safely assess circumstances and risk.
We know from research that the public’s clear view is that the police are not the right agency to deliver mental health care and support to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Once it has become clear to the police that there is a need for such support it is important that timely and safe handovers can take place, with health-sector agencies, so that the person gets the right care, and police time is freed up to deal with other policing business, including being available to help other people experiencing distress.
