Crisis as cops deal with 700 mental health cases a day

Federation chief plea for urgent action

- BY MARY WRIGHT

POLICE are being inundated with almost 700 mental health-related incidents a day, shocking figures have revealed.

Official data shows 61,188 incidents were recorded between April and June ~ representing almost 18 per cent of all reports to the force.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPA) - which represents rank and file cops - warned “mental health demand” continues to stretch the thin blue line.

They say depleted frontline officers are “already under extraordinary strain” amid rising crime rates as the force faces ever expanding demands on its policing remit.