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‘If they don’t comply, they die’: family of fatal NSW police shootings call for independent inquiry (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Exclusive: Premier says an inquiry into use of force against vulnerable people isn’t necessary, despite four fatalities in as many monthss

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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…

In their response to the report, released on Monday, the police said they were “in the very early stages of exploring an alternative to the current Pacer program”.

“This issue will only be addressed with the responsibility for the appropriate management of those with mental health issues being returned to NSW health services,” the response said.

…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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

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.