Behind bars for being suicidal

Consider this scenario: For whatever reason, someone is trying to take their own life and the police are called to help.

Officers arrive to find someone on the edge. What do you think happens next?

Surprisingly often, they are arrested and put in the cells overnight, for their own safety.

The police do not want to arrest them. But sometimes they are left with no choice because there can be nowhere else for them to go.

Fiona Walker reports.

BBC Scotland Investigates - Scotland's Silent Deaths. BBC One Scotland on Thursday 19 July at 22:35