Responding to mental health-related incidents is limiting Police Scotland’s ability to prevent, investigate and detect crime, a report says.

The study by the police watchdog said mental health demands had increased significantly in recent years.

It warned too much of frontline officers’ time was being taken up as a result.

The report said mental health should be managed primarily by health and social care services.

It wants the Scottish government to commission a strategic review of the whole system relating to mental health, involving a range of scrutiny bodies.

The report, which was carried out by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), said the role of Police Scotland in dealing with mental health needed to be clearly defined and articulated to officers, police staff and the public.

It found there was a perception among some police officers and staff that they were filling in gaps and performing the role of the NHS.

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