Police officers' knowledge of and attitudes towards, mental illness in southwest Scotland

Questionnaires were sent to all operational officers in a regional police s ervice regarding their level of knowledge about and attitudes towards, ment al illness. It was widely accepted by police officers that mental illness o ccurred commonly can be effectively treated in the community and that the m ain risk of harm is to patients themselves. There was a good knowledge of r elevant legislation, but most officers felt they did not have sufficient tr aining in mental illness, and were keen for more. Improved liaison between sector psychiatrists and local police may be of value in the earlier identi fication and treatment of the mentally ill.