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How am i not surprised that the absolutely corrupt and criminal NSW police don't think they have a problem.
I worked in Community Mental Health in Sydney for 5 years. During that time a number of people were killed whilst experiencing psychotic episodes, thankfully none of my own clients. Colleagues had to brief police on how to respond, they were dumbfounded at the ignorance and blatant disregard.
I would never call Police if a family member was going through a similar psychological event. Do whatever you can to handle it yourself before introducing jumpy idiots with firearms to the situation.
I'm in Vic and work once called for a wellbeing check-in on me (bipolar). Thankfully the main cop spoke to seemed lovely and just wanted to chat, asked me what day it was etc. to check whether I was psychotic or not. His partner was much more.... Shitty. Asked only a couple of questions but made it feel like an interrogation that put me on edge and that made him more on edge. The main cop shut him down though thankfully.
The premier said he had confidence in the LECC and the police’s internal processes to review their own conduct.
Right after the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability released a full volume on Criminal justice and people with disability.
Here were some of the recommendations if you understandably haven't read the 5000 page report. Including old mate Minns, who should have at least been fucking briefed on the big highlighted boxes in each section called "key points" and "recommendations".
State and territory governments should uphold the rights of people with disability who are in custody. Consistent with article 14 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), all corrective service and youth justice agencies should provide people with disability the disability supports they need while in custody. ... to place them in the same position, so far as feasible, as other people in custody.
The Australian Government’s implementation of the UN Optional Protocol for the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) heightens the obligation to ensure that people with disability deprived of their liberty are protected...
Each jurisdiction will nominate its own body to monitor compliance with OPCAT in places of detention. ...such as the Ombudsman or the Inspector of Custodial Services in each particular state or territory...
...the Australian Government, in
consultation with the state and territory governments, should support the development of a human rights education and training strategy that includes disability awareness training for National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs), detention authorities and their staff. - section 2.4
And that doesn't even touch all of the justice system recommendations.
Don't be such a fuckwit, Minns.
Wasn’t the PACER programme developed for this purpose? Why isn’t it being used or even mentioned in the article?
That’s a whole other story at the moment.
This bit in particular…
In their response to the report, released on Monday, the police said they were “in the very early stages of exploring an alternative to the current Pacer program”.
“This issue will only be addressed with the responsibility for the appropriate management of those with mental health issues being returned to NSW health services,” the response said.
…should be pounced upon. It’s rare to see any police force offer a suggestion of actively excluding them from mental health responses. Minns doesn’t seem to have half the ambition required to actually take up the idea.
Police attending mental health crises are an escalating factor. They shouldn’t be there at all, with a trained and equipped new response in their place whose only responsibility is health care.
Ahh, I see. I wonder if any of the four deaths listed in the original article had PACER clinicians out with them on those calls. That would give us a clear indication if the programme is having a real effect during serious mental health episodes. The significant reduction in arrests is pretty promising.
It seems as though the Police brass understand that Police only escalate mental health crises and they don’t want that responsibility anymore, but sadly the fact remains that first responders to a mental health episode need to be able to be defended from violent behaviour. Maybe we could look at a plain-clothes officer who has concealed weaponry to attend with mental health clinicians to keep them safe, and only intervene when violence occurs.