Mike Johnson: Police Assistant Commissioner on the next phase of the Mental Health Response Change Programme
The Mike Hosking Breakfast · Newstalk ZB
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Show Notes
Police say their new approach to mental health callouts is working.
They're now in phase three out of four of the programme, meaning there's a higher threshold for officers to attend calls from mental health workers.
Officers will also assess the appropriateness before responding to missing persons reports for those with mental health concerns.
Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson told Mike Hosking there's been a 75% reduction in mental health patients in their cells.
He says there have also been 900 fewer calls-for-service in the past month, compared to the same time last year.
Johnson says the previous system was not a good use of resources, as sitting in EDs with patients wasn’t advancing community safety.
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