Exclusive: Premier says an inquiry into use of force against vulnerable people isn’t necessary, despite four fatalities in as many monthss
Exclusive: Premier says an inquiry into use of force against vulnerable people isn’t necessary, despite four fatalities in as many monthss
That’s a whole other story at the moment.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/21/nsw-police-looking-to-replace-mental-health-response-program-lauded-by-minister-as-so-successful
This bit in particular…
…should be pounced upon. It’s rare to see any police force offer a suggestion of actively excluding them from mental health responses. Minns doesn’t seem to have half the ambition required to actually take up the idea.
Police attending mental health crises are an escalating factor. They shouldn’t be there at all, with a trained and equipped new response in their place whose only responsibility is health care.
Ahh, I see. I wonder if any of the four deaths listed in the original article had PACER clinicians out with them on those calls. That would give us a clear indication if the programme is having a real effect during serious mental health episodes. The significant reduction in arrests is pretty promising.
It seems as though the Police brass understand that Police only escalate mental health crises and they don’t want that responsibility anymore, but sadly the fact remains that first responders to a mental health episode need to be able to be defended from violent behaviour. Maybe we could look at a plain-clothes officer who has concealed weaponry to attend with mental health clinicians to keep them safe, and only intervene when violence occurs.