Report Summary
This report provides members of the Policing Performance Committee with an overview of work underway across the policing system, and with partners, in relation to mental health distress, vulnerability and the response by policing. This follows publication of the Framework for Collaboration and linked Collaborative Commitments in February 2025.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 16 September 2025
Date : 16 September 2025
Location : online
Measuring and evidencing progress
Alongside the development of the performance framework, a small suite of high-level policing metrics have been identified which help set the context for the work of the PDG. These will be enhanced over time as the wider performance framework is populated.
Policing Incident data
The table below shows key policing incident data, with a focus on mental health related incidents. It is important to note that the wider figure for mental health related incidents includes all recorded incidents where specific mental health associated keywords or phrases are recorded with the captured commentary of the incident. This means that the definition of mental health related incidents for this purpose is broad and captures multiple incident types, such as domestic, missing person, neighbour disputes and disturbances, where mental health is an element within that incident but where an initial policing response is appropriate.
As can be seen from the data outlined below, overall incidents reduced slightly from 2023/24 to 2024/25. Within this overall incident demand on policing, the number of mental health related incidents also reduced while the percentage of overall incidents that are mental health related increased marginally.
Mental Health Pathway (MHP) referrals from Police Scotland have increased significantly in the year, up by 36% to 4,264 for the period 2024/25. This is positive progress in relation to the adoption of the pathway by policing, with more individuals in distress or crisis being directed to appropriate mental health support and assessment at the first point of contact. Additional data on referrals from Scottish Ambulance Service is being developed for inclusion.
TABLE
Distress Brief Intervention (DBI)
DBI referrals from Police Scotland are making a considerable contribution to the provision of mental health support to individuals at a local level. The table below outlines the number of referrals across the partners:
TABLE
The table below breaks down the number of staff who have received DBI Level 1 Induction by unscheduled care setting:
TABLE
NHS 24 have provided data ranging from July 2024 to July 2025 outlining the referral outcomes for all call contacts made to the Mental Health Hub as shown below:
TABLE
Of the calls made from Police Scotland into the Mental Health Hub, self-care continues to be most frequent outcome, followed by GP telephone advice.
