The provision of medical services to people in police custody is coming under increased scrutiny by the police service in Scotland and beyond. Such services – whether for treatment, assessing fitness for interview or appearance in court, or a range of other associated purposes – are delivered in a number of different ways across Scotland and are often closely associated or completely integrated with forensic medical services.
This report is the result of a thematic inspection by HMICS into the provision of Medical services for people in police custody.
Number | Recommendation |
|---|---|
1 | We find merit in the projects currently taking place in Fife involving the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), National Health Service (NHS) Fife and Fife Constabulary. Individual police forces are therefore encouraged to work in partnership with local authorities, health and other agencies to establish best practice in dealing with drunk and incapable people, within the context of locally available services and resources. |
2 | That the police service in Scotland actively participates in proposed research on identifying appropriate means of supporting and dealing with drunk and incapable people including the use of designated places of safety. |
3 | That, whilst the long-term approach could be to transfer responsibility for medical services to the NHS, forces in the meantime collaborate with the NHS to introduce multidisciplinary clinical personnel into their custody facilities. |
4 | That the Tayside Psychiatric Assessment Protocol be viewed as good practice, and that other police forces in Scotland pursue a similar approach. |
5 | That the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), via its National Custody Forum, create and incorporate common performance management information within the developing national custody system. This would give forces, police authorities/boards, and the health service a shared understanding of what should be expected and delivered across Scotland. |