Just one in five calls to police from across Stirling are crime-related - with a growing number of calls relating to vulnerable people.
Police received more than 800 calls related to mental health in Stirling in just three months it has been revealed.
And cops say they expect cases to increase given recent cost of living pressures and other challenges.
Between April and June, there were 18,907 total incidents reported across the Forth Valley area (excluding duplicate incidents); 5698 of which related to the Stirling area.
Fewer than 20 per cent of these calls resulted in a crime being recorded - comparable with trends experienced across the country.
In Stirling, 819 mental health related incidents were reported during this period with more than half of the call demand relating to: concern for person (26.9 per cent); assisting members of the public (21.6 per cent); and missing persons (5.7 per cent).
Local officers reported the figures to Stirling Council’s public safety committee on Thursday.
Stirling area commander Chief Inspector Caroline Logan said: “There’s been over 5,600 calls and incidents of people contacting police for assistance during the three month period. Less than one in five - and in this [three month] period it’s been about 15 per cent - relate to crimes...so that’s a significant amount of demand that is relatively unseen if just looking at crime statistics.
“The demands we are facing from vulnerabilities are increasing.
“In terms of incidents reported the vast majority of the incidents relate to concern for persons so that’s where we are looking to check on someone’s welfare; assisting a member of the public with matter not of a criminal nature; also in terms of missing persons.
“On average a missing person inquiry, during the three months, was taking just over seven hours.
“But when dealing with missing persons it can be very varied. Sometimes it can be very protracted and roll on for days, weeks, months and sometimes even longer.”
CI Logan said while sometimes people were found relatively quickly or it was discovered the individual who reported them missing just wasn’t aware of where the person had been, there were occasions when specialist expertise had to be brought in, for example to deal with difficult terrain, but that police were also “quite often” asked to assist their colleagues in the health sector.
Forth Valley area commander Chief Superintendent Alan Gibson said the force’s remit had widened greatly into community wellbeing since the Police and Fire Reform Act in 2014.
“We are hugely involved in areas of vulnerability dealing with missing people and people who are having significant mental health traumas,” he added.
“We are the service of both first resort and, on many occasions, regretfully of last resort.”
In their report, police said: “Incidents relating to concerns for a person often relate to individuals experiencing crisis or in mental health distress where a police response is requested/provided in the absence of other services.
“Whilst missing person enquiries equated to approximately five per cent of the overall call demand, the average length of time dedicated to conducting enquiries for a missing person was 7.79 hours.
“Fifty-four missing person reports related to children, 21 of whom were looked after children.
“With projected increases in the local population and enhanced life expectancy, the local demographic of children, older people and people with complex care needs is likely to expand in the future.
“Research shows that the growing population of older people in our communities are more likely to be living alone which increases the risk of mental health related illness linked to social isolation and loneliness.
“The associated challenges faced across the public and third sector are recognised through our joint local plans which identify the partnership effort required to ensure local services remain responsive to individuals with complex needs as the local demographic continues to evolve in forthcoming years.
“The effect of the pandemic will continue to be felt for some time and we face new challenges, such as the cost of living crisis, which will undoubtedly be reflected in recorded crimes as this year progresses.
“The needs of people in our communities are changing and consequently the demands on policing are evolving with an increased focus placed on addressing vulnerability and the consequences of inequalities in our communities over recent years.”
The report also outlined specific partnership working and systems to identify and support vulnerable people, as well as suicide prevention strategies, wellbeing events and talks.
