Mr. Brian Dack:

In reply to Deputy Wallace's question, it is obviously more difficult if people are undergoing an emotional collapse to work with them in a positive way. Their mental health becomes the priority issue. Similarly some of the programmes we have in operation to work with sex offenders demand a certain level of intellectual ability. With people with issues with intellectual disabilities, we have to deal with them in a different way. All the time we are recognising that an interagency approach is what is necessary. Accordingly, we are talking constantly to our colleagues in the mental health services and gaining their support. As my colleagues said, if this were on a statutory basis, it would bring those players in more forcefully because the powers would be there.