Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Douglas Ross raises the issue of police officers sitting in A & E when they could be out in the community.

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham from Police Scotland says a high number of people who fall into police custody fall into the vulnerable category.

ACC Graham says the police do not pay the NHS to provide care to those in custody. 

He says at the start of Police Scotland there was a sum of money transferred from the block police grant to the NHS, which obliged them to provide medical care and forensics.

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor uses an example of a young man who went missing in his constituency and had a tragic outcome.

Mr MacGregor says the family believe there was not enough done in the first 72 hours and that this was a crucial time.

The SNP MSP says the family have been complimentary of the police and asks if Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham would meet with the family to discuss issues.

ACC Graham says he is not aware of the specifics of the case but he would be happy to discuss it further and make sure a senior representative meets with the family.

ACC Graham says a huge proportion of the calls for people who go missing fit into three categories.

He says one of the categories is looked after children and there are a variety of reasons for why they go missing.

ACC Grahams says the police are on the end of the call and it can be hugely time consuming to ensure the child is safe.

He says the categories are to help the response and if someone does not fall into these categories they get the same level of response.

Bob Leslie from Social Work Scotland says access to services out of hours is limited but emergencies happen at the weekends.

Mr Leslie says "the cost of running a 24 hours service is unsustainable."  

Image source, Alzheimers Scotland

Amy Dalrymple from Alzheimer Scotland says their helpline is used more at night. 

David Liddell OBE director of the Scottish Drugs Forum says drug and alcohol services are mostly opened 9-5 during the week.

Mr Liddell says there is a need to explore service availability beyond that and it would make a "huge difference".

Image source, bbc

Bob Leslie from Social Work Scotland says austerity is having an impact, with an increase in foodbanks.

Mr Leslie says there is not a day goes by that his office does not see a number of people presenting as destitute.

He says these are the knock on effects of austerity and people have to be helped through the maze of welfare benefits.     

Cameron Black from the Bethany Christian Trust says it is difficult to say that there has not been an increase following welfare reforms and reduction to budgets. 

"People are no longer falling through the cracks, they are being hammered through the cracks."

In response to SNP MSP Ben Macpherson's question, Calum Steele from the Scottish Police Federation says we must tread carefully because there is no evidence that those who are poor commit crime.

Mr Steele says poverty does make people vulnerable and more likely to turn to things that may not necessarily be legal. 

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham from Police Scotland says there is a disproportionate amount of demand that comes to the Police about children, frequently from parents.

ACC Graham says this should be highlighted and prioritised as they are vulnerable by dint of their very age alone.

He says this should be a priority going forward.

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson asks what impact UK government welfare reform has had on vulnerable groups.

David Liddell OBE director of the Scottish Drugs Forum says it definitely has, particularly with sanctions.

Dr Peter Bennie from the British Medical Association says austerity has had affects on vulnerable people and he has witnessed "some bizarre decisions on who is deemed fit for work."

ACC Graham says neither anecdotally or with hard evidence can he say whether it has affected demand on the police.

He says demands are changing but he cannot say the exact reason for this.

Image source, bbc

David Liddell from the Scottish Drugs Forum says care workers and support for those on drugs could save the NHS a lot of money in the long run. 

Calum Steele from the Scottish Police Federation says the law hasn't changed in terms of criminal behaviour but policy has.

Mr Steele says the aim is not to put people through the criminal justice system where possible.

He says services are required to help achieve this. 

Image source, bbc

Calum Steele from the Scottish Police Federation says the services are carrying the risks of many vulnerable people and the lack of finance invariably leads to pressure on the people.

The lack of finance impacts on the support services he says.

Mr Steele says it impacts on those delivering the services which will lead to a breaking point and many vulnerable people are being failed by the mythical system.

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham says the service people get often depends on who they phone because they might phone an ambulance, they may phone a service or they may phone the police.

ACC Graham says they should get the same service no matter who they phone.