This petition is born out of a deeply personal and distressing experience.

The person experienced mental health crisis and reached out to the police for support. The officers, upon seeing this person's distress, contacted a psychiatric nurse. However, due to their heightened stress levels, the person was unable to communicate effectively over the phone. The decision was made to transport this person for assessment at a Psychiatric Hospital in Edinburgh.

The person agreed to be transported to the hospital. Despite showing no signs of aggression or violence, the person was placed into the back of a caged police van, to the small cage without seatbelts - an experience that proved deeply traumatic. 

Section 297 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 confers on the police a power to take a person who appears to be mentally disordered and who appears to be in immediate need of care or treatment to a place of safety and to detain them there for a period of up to 24 hours.

This incident is not isolated. It highlights how our system can inadvertently contribute towards exacerbating rather than alleviating mental distress. This practice can be dehumanizing and may potentially worsen an already fragile emotional state.

We must advocate for change within our system that ensures dignity and respect are upheld during these critical moments.

 We urge Scottish authorities to end this practice immediately.

In Report of HMICS Thematic review of policing mental health in Scotland
October 2023 the key findings are:

• Mental health is a multifaceted issue that requires an effective whole-system partnership response.
•  
• There has been a significant increase in demand associated with mental health for Police Scotland and partner organisations over the last five years. It is now more prevalent than ever across all incidents; it is a daily occurrence and places significant demand on front line services.
•  
• There is a perception among some officers and staff in Police Scotland that the police are filling gaps and performing the role of the NHS, and that there is a need for clarity in relation to each agency’s role within the whole system

https://www.hmics.scot/sites/default/files/publications/HMICS20231018PUB.pdf

 

 

Scottish Ambulance Service should be responsible for providing assistance and transporting people in a state of psychiatric medical emergency. Police officers should assist SAS emergency team if necessary.

 

Please sign this petition if you believe in creating more empathetic practices when supporting those facing mental health challenges in Scotland.

Thank you!