Police report on SNP finances probe due ‘within weeks’

Police Scotland say that every year, they respond to more than 100,000 mental health incidents – only 13% of which involve a crime.

On busy days, a call related to mental health comes in every two or three minutes.

In England, many forces have adopted a new approach and are only responding to mental health incidents when a crime has been committed or there is an immediate threat to life.

Ms Farrell says she does not want to go that far but argues that Police Scotland must no longer be asked to carry out the routine work of other agencies.

Asked if she wanted her officers to stop carrying out welfare checks on people with mental health problems, she replied: “Absolutely.”

“Our involvement in mental health incidents and supporting vulnerable people has a significant impact on this organisation and is way beyond where policing should be.

“We’re the ones who have to deal with house breaking, online sexual abuse, fraud, cyber crime, domestic abuse, serious and organised crime. We’re the only ones who do that.”

Ms Farrell also wants to reduce the time officers spend in courts, waiting to be called for trials which don’t go ahead.

“Mental health and the courts are the two big issues that are drawing officers away from frontline policing.

“I would say roughly a third of the officers who’re called to court are on a rest day or annual leave and that impacts on their well being and their work life balance.

“My conservative estimate is that only 15% end up giving evidence.”

Work is underway to reduce the demand on the police from mental health calls and the amount of time they spend in courts.

When she took charge last year, Ms Farrell said she supported the statement of her predecessor, Sir Iain Livingstone, that the force was institutionally discriminatory.