I am grateful to police officers and other front-line agencies that support people who are in distress or are experiencing mental ill health.
The Scottish Government and the Scottish Police Authority have established a multi-agency group to ensure that people with mental health needs are able to access the right service at the right time. Officers are often the first point of contact and, therefore, play a vital role in supporting communities and victims of crime. However, it is essential that they are able to transfer care of people with mental health needs to the services that can support them best.