Police unfit for mental response
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The New South Wales police commissioner wants to keep officers away from mental health incidents.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has suggested that police officers should not serve as first responders to mental health incidents unless there is an immediate risk to public safety.
Commissioner Webb's remarks, made during a NSW Budget Estimates inquiry, come alongside ongoing scrutiny of police involvement in mental health crises.
An official update on the delayed review of how police respond to such crises is expected by the end of the year.
The review was initially prompted by the death of Krista Kach, a Newcastle woman, in September 2023.
Ms Kach died after being struck by a beanbag round during a prolonged police standoff, raising questions about the appropriateness of police handling of mental health emergencies.
The review, which has reportedly been handed to NSW Health, was initially expected earlier this year.
During the inquiry, Commissioner Webb emphasised the need to reassess police involvement in mental health situations.
“What I want to do and what we agree on might be different things”, she said, adding that the ultimate goal is to “remove police from attending to mental health concerns where there is no immediate risk to the safety of people”.
Commissioner Webb noted that most mental health-related calls do not involve dangerous settings, suggesting that these situations might be better handled by health professionals rather than police.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley confirmed that a senior steering committee, which includes Commissioner Webb, is actively working on the review, with an update expected by the end of the year.
The delay in the review has drawn criticism, particularly from Greens MP Sue Higginson, who questioned the police minister about the timeline for its release.
Ms Higginson argued that the current model of police responding to mental health incidents is flawed, citing cases where police presence has escalated situations, sometimes leading to fatal outcomes.
She expressed concern that despite acknowledgments from the police and government, changes have not yet been implemented.
The call for change has also been echoed by various advocacy groups.
Last year, more than 80 prominent advocates, including Camilla Pandolfini from Redfern Legal Centre and Jonathon Hunyor from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, urged Premier Chris Minns to prioritise funding for mental health workers to join police on the frontline.
The advocates argue that mental health crises require health-based responses, also noting that police presence during a crisis can exacerbate anxiety.
Insiders have told reporters that officers often feel burdened by a health system unable to adequately address the needs of individuals in crisis.
The police union has also expressed frustration, claiming that officers are frequently criticised during coronial inquests while the health system is not held equally accountable.
Some officers have reported ongoing psychological distress after being involved in fatal incidents.