A former police officer is backing the force's approach to dealing with mental health cases.  

Police are in the middle of four stage process to pull back from attending mental health call outs.  

The Mental Health Foundation has created a petition calling on them to reverse course. 

It says first phase, which started in November, has already caused damage in the sector. 

Former Police Officer Lance Burdett told Andrew Dickens there are some situations where Police aren't the right answer.  

He says some people don't want to see a police officer in uniform when they are having a crisis. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A former police officer is backing the force's approach to dealing with mental health cases. &nbsp;
Police are in the middle of four stage process to pull back from attending mental health call outs. &nbsp;
The Mental Health Foundation has created a petition calling on them to reverse course.&nbsp;
It says first phase, which started in November, has already caused damage in the sector.&nbsp;
Former Police Officer Lance Burdett told Andrew Dickens there are some situations where Police aren't the right answer. &nbsp;
He says some people don't want to see a police officer in uniform when they are having a crisis.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Lance Burdett: Former Police Officer on the new approach to mental health cases

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/eca9aa3e-b486-4a93-b5c2-b2b8016ed672/transcript