Status of all recommendations

Police Scotland and the SPA should develop, and report on, a performance management framework setting out how it will police mental health in Scotland.

Police Scotland should provide clear guidance and effective training for officers and staff, in line with its mental health strategy, to help address the culture of risk aversion evident in the policing of mental health-related incidents and to improve outcomes for people experiencing poor mental health.

Police Scotland should engage with partner agencies to re-establish collaborative leadership training to help develop leaders across the whole system, in line with the Scottish Government mental health and wellbeing strategy.

Police Scotland should monitor and report on the impact of the use of its powers, under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, on under-represented groups.

Police Scotland should review the use and recording of place of safety orders across the organisation to achieve consistency of approach and ensure that reporting of this is included in performance reports to the SPA.

Police Scotland and the SPA should take steps to establish a clear demand picture for policing mental health.

Police Scotland should, in conjunction with relevant partner organisations, review all Psychiatric Emergency Plans across Scotland and ensure that the police role in dealing with mental health is appropriate, supportive, patient-centred and aligned to Police Scotland’s mental health strategy, once established.