Police call for gear changes to deal with mentally ill

Soft handcuffs and perspex separating police drivers from their backseat passengers are among suggestions by the police union to help officers deal with violent mentally ill people.

A report in the Police News magazine said failures within New Zealand's mental health system meant mentally ill people spent lengthy periods of time in police cells while waiting for assessments.

Staff shortages in the mental health industry also meant delays in treating patients picked up by police.

Frontline officers said they felt they were wasting time and resources, as well as being put at risk when picking up mentally ill people.

"If patients are potentially violent it means three officers from an I-car [incident car] will be needed for transportation to the nearest police station or hospital for assessment.

"Police have to wait for staff at a hospital to take charge of the patient before they can leave, often meaning that an incident car can be tied up on one job for several hours," the magazine said.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said another risk was the legal consequence if something went wrong.

"The inevitable media outcry if a mentally disturbed individual is injured while being dealt with invariably leads to a major investigation in which the actions of the officers will be minutely scrutinised by criminal investigators and be subject to negative comment by the usual police critics."

Solutions sought by the association included being able to use "humane restraints" to hold violent and/or uncontrollable patients.

The restraints would minimise the risk of injury and involve the use of softer handcuffs, ankle bracelets and headgear, rather than the traditional metal ones.

The association said perspex screens should be installed in all police cars between the driver and rear seats.

- NZPA