Police to reduce role in mental health crises, new thresholds set for response

Summarised by Centrist

Starting in November, the police will implement higher thresholds for responding to mental health crises, directing calls that don’t meet the new criteria to more appropriate services. This change aims to relieve the mounting pressure on police, who have seen a 150% increase in mental health call-outs over the past decade. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster discussed the strain, noting that mental health-related calls now account for 11% of all police emergency communications, with one call received every seven minutes. Only 5% of these calls involve a criminal element, making it clear that the current demand is unsustainable.

Read more over The NZ Herald