More being asked of police officers, neurodiversity inquiry committee told

More is being asked of Police Scotland officers under an increasing “reduction of resourcing”, an MSP committee examining the experience of neurodivergent people in the criminal justice system has heard.

Superintendent Graeme Gallie told the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on Tuesday that the force is “asking a lot” but is moving in the right direction.

Mr Gallie, delivery lead for the neurodiversity strategic working group at Police Scotland, said: “I think if we’re honest we ask a lot of our officers and staff on a daily basis under an ever-increasing reduction of resourcing. They have to be a social worker, a police officer, a paramedic in some cases.

“I suppose for me what I would say is we’re asking a lot. We are doing a lot.

“We’re never going to be perfect in this space, or any space, but I think everything we’ve demonstrated today from the partners around the table is that we’re all moving in that right direction in the journey.”

The committee agreed last year to undertake an inquiry looking at the challenges facing neurodivergent people and the services for them in Scotland.

The inquiry followed the Scottish Government’s decision in 2024 to delay the introduction of a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill (LDAN).

The Bill will aim to provide legislative changes to protect, respect and champion the rights of people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people.

Proposals covered a wide range of areas of life such as justice, health and education.

Mr Gallie said that elements of the proposed LDAN Bill would be beneficial to helping the service.

He said: “As an organisation, we’re doing everything that we can do to make this situation better for everyone, but we can’t do it alone and require our partners to step up into spaces, and one of those areas is probably around the appropriate adult scheme.

“The appropriate adult scheme is one of the elements that was looked at within the LDAN Bill and one of the elements that may come out when the Bill is put forward, and that’s provided to us by the 32 local authorities.

“I suppose if there is going to be more emphasis on that, that needs to be funded and it needs to be delivered in a way that is equal across the 32 local authorities.

“To support policing, we need partners in spaces like that to provide the service that’s required. So, I suppose that is one element that we’d be keen to hear what the Scottish Government plans to do.”

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is already facing increasing pressure due to overcrowding.

Statistics released by the Scottish Government at the beginning of November showed the average daily population in 2024-25 was 8,213, up from 7,856 the previous year and above the previous record of 8,198 in 2019-20.

The figure is the largest since records began in 1970, when the prison population stood at 5,003.

SPS director of policy Sarah Angus said the situation was “difficult” for the prison service at the moment and it would need “appropriate funding”.

She said: “I think it is difficult for the prison service, at the moment … well, we have to prioritise certain things with regards to our population.

“It is really about the appropriate levels, the appropriate numbers, the appropriate funding to actually really lean into this space and work with our partners.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It is vital that the rights of people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people are respected, protected and championed.

“We currently provide funding of £1 million to local authorities for the Appropriate Adult service, supporting people aged 16 and above.

“We also recognise the vital role police officers and staff play in keeping our communities safe and are investing record funding of over £1.7 billion for policing in 2026-27 and just over £1 billion for our prisons to support frontline staff and progress improvements in the prison estate.”