HEALTH bosses have emphasised they have a "very good relationship" with police following reports on the number of times officers have been called to a Plymouth mental health unit.
Figures obtained by the BBC following a Freedom of Information request showed police were called to the Derriford-based Glenbourne Unit 460 times in five years - 270 of them to deal with missing people.
It came as the Police Federation said dealing with people with mental health problems was putting a strain on their services.
But chiefs in charge of Glenbourne said no police contact issues had been raised with them during their regular discussions.
Steve Waite, chief executive of Plymouth Community Healthcare, said: "At Glenbourne, we care for people suffering from mental health problems who cannot be supported at home.
"We do so in a variety of ways, sometimes care and treatment is provided informally and sometimes more formally under a section of the Mental Health Act.
"Glenbourne has been recognised by the Care Quality Commission as providing good quality care and treatment for people and has the correct resources in place to do so.
"There are clear protocols and policies in place for when we have concerns about the safety of patients or staff.
"When it is reasonable and responsible to do so, we will request police assistance.
"A joint policy is in place across the key agencies in Plymouth, that applies to all healthcare settings, to ensure that reports to the police are made only when necessary to ensure safety.
"We have a very good working relationship with our local police colleagues and liaise on a regular basis to discuss operational processes, including any specific concerns either organisation may have.
"Requests for police assistance have not been raised with us as an issue.
"In the case of patients who are being treated formally under the Mental Health Act and who have failed to return to the unit following a period of agreed leave, or who have left the unit without leave being agreed with their clinical team, this is a situation where we may expect to request police assistance.
"The safety of the person concerned, and the safety of others, are of paramount importance."
The reported figures showed police have been alerted to 700 incidents in five years at the Derriford unit.
According to the figures, incidents include one allegation of rape, 13 sexual offences, 67 reports of violence and 270 missing person reports.
Nigel Rabbitts, from Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, told the BBC: "Police resources are deployed to support another statutory agency which, due to resourcing issues and management policies, have become reliant on the police to assist in their function."
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