The Mental Health Minister is confident about moving emergency responses to people in acute mental distress to health experts, rather than Police.

Police say they'll be phasing rollout - of stepping back from mental-health callouts, over a year, starting in November.

They'll lift the risk threshold for turning up - and start reducing how long officers stay with a patient they've transported to hospital.

Matt Doocey told Heather du Plessis Allan mechanisms are being worked through for managing the transition.

He says it's clear someone having a mental health crisis should get a health response, not a criminal one.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Mental Health Minister is confident about moving emergency responses to people in acute mental distress to health experts, rather than Police.
Police say they'll be phasing rollout - of stepping back from mental-health callouts, over a year, starting in November.
They'll lift the risk threshold for turning up - and start reducing how long officers stay with a patient they've transported to hospital.
Matt Doocey told Heather du Plessis Allan mechanisms are being worked through for managing the transition.
He says it's clear someone having a mental health crisis should get a health response, not a criminal one.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

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