The Government is assuring police will still respond to mental health callouts when needed.  

The Mental Health Foundation has launched a petition asking police to stop scaling back on attending mental health callouts.

A four-phase reduction plan was announced in November.

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the programme addresses the handover - not the response. 

"People with mental health issues - they don't want to sit in emergency departments with police officers sitting there with tasers. They want a mental health response, and that's what we're working on."

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government is assuring police will still respond to mental health callouts when needed. &nbsp;
The Mental Health Foundation has launched a petition asking police to stop scaling back on attending mental health callouts.
A four-phase reduction plan was announced in November.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the programme addresses the handover - not the response.&nbsp;
"People with mental health issues - they don't want to sit in emergency departments with police officers sitting there with tasers. They want a mental health response, and that's what we're working on."
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.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Matt Doocey: Mental Health Minister says the police will still respond to mental health callouts

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/df2cbee0-2bc7-437a-9a9f-b2b8004cb90b/transcript