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Police take custody recommendations on board

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Police take custody recommendations

3News NZ

Police have signalled that they'll take many of the report's recommendations on board

Police have signalled that they'll take many of the report's recommendations on board

Experts believe the best way to stop people killing themselves in police custody is to create a better connection with the mental health sector.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority released a report yesterday with detailed recommendations after examining 27 deaths in police custody over the past 10 years, a large portion of which were suicides.

Chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, Judi Clements, says many of the deaths may have been prevented if the police and mental health sectors had better links.

“So that the police aren’t left trying to look after people who are in difficult circumstances in custody with a history of mental health problems, they need input from a clinical mental health perspective,” she says.

Police have signalled that they'll take many of the report's recommendations on board.

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Comments

2/07/2012 1:08:16 p.m.

jan.. wrote:

The Mental Health Authority are supposed to be qualified and Alcoholism is a mental illness..
If the Mental Health workers cant deal with there illness then they should find another job or join the dole que..
The mental patients from time to time need a secure mental health facilities where they can escape from our world and its demands..
Its seems like a standard procedure for the police when needed for the safety of the mentally ill person and the plublic..
The mental patient Carers with the knowledge and ability they have of the patient should deal with the situation..

1/07/2012 9:45:49 p.m.

The one that got away! wrote:

Police are so far removed from the public these days and are encouraged to arrest and prosecute at any cost. Until this attitude is changed and cops go back to caring about and working for and not against communities things like this will continue.

1/07/2012 7:41:10 p.m.

Glenn wrote:

But when your dealing with someone who is intoxicated and has a history of mental illness or are currently under mental health. The CAT team or mental health don't want to deal with that person until their sober!