Police officials have announced that starting in November they will no longer respond to certain “inappropriate” requests for assistance during mental health callouts.
The decision is part of a broader effort to limit police involvement in non-critical situations, allowing mental health services to manage cases more independently.
Police have noted that while such requests are not frequent, they have occasionally been called upon for tasks that don’t require law enforcement intervention. Examples include moving patients between rooms within inpatient facilities, providing security for moderate staff concerns, escorting elderly patients with dementia for assessments, or bringing in compliant individuals for routine medication.
Matt Morris, police manager of health partnerships, clarified in a statement to state media that a new threshold for police involvement in mental health matters will be introduced. “Police will follow a clear set of guidelines regarding when our presence is necessary and when it is not,” Morris stated.
The new approach aligns with Health NZ‘s goal of providing less restrictive and coercive care for individuals experiencing mental distress. Regular discussions are ongoing between the police, Health NZ, and the Ministry of Health to fine-tune this plan.
The pullback will roll out in four phases, beginning in November and continuing into next year. Key changes in the first phase include:
- Voluntary Handover at Emergency Departments (ED):** Police will document the handover of individuals transported for voluntary mental health assessments and leave shortly after.
- Transportation Requirements: Mental health services will need to conduct more thorough risk planning before requesting police assistance for patient transport.
- Mental Health Facility Responses: New thresholds will limit police presence in inpatient mental health units, reducing unnecessary involvement in routine facility matters.
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