7. Debate on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Report: Mental Health in Policing and Police Custody

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:38 pm on 22 January 2020.

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Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 4:38, 22 January 2020

(Translated)

Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you for your patience, because I understand that I have little time to respond to this debate. May I thank, therefore, in the time that does remain to me, everyone for their contributions? I think it’s relevant for us to pay tribute to the police’s work in this difficult context of responding to mental health crises in emergency situations. Over the years, I've been there with them, very often in the middle of the night. When there are crises in people's lives, the police are there to help us as medics to deal with the situation, as well as to help the family. So, I'm pleased to have this opportunity to pay tribute to the police for their work.

May I acknowledge the important contributions made by David Rees, Mark Isherwood, Rhun ap Iorwerth and also, of course, the Minister? May I also thank all of the witnesses that provided such excellent evidence to us during our inquiry as a committee? And, of course, I’ll take this opportunity to say thank you for the hard work of the clerks and the researchers on the health committee, because I don't always remember to do that. So, thank you very much to them.

To conclude, therefore, there are major steps that have been taken in this field. It does continue to be a very important, difficult and serious issue, because as we know, policing isn't devolved here, whereas health and mental health have been devolved, but experience increasingly shows that there is excellent collaboration that can happen. Having said that, a number of challenges remain in this area. Thank you.