The PSA has laid an official complaint with the
Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) after Police
failed to assist mental health workers who were assaulted by
a distressed patient.
Three emergency calls to Police
in 90 minutes by a mental health worker went unanswered on
21 November 2025.
“The PSA laid a complaint with the
IPCA about this serious incident and have called for wider
concerns with the Police withdrawal from mental health
support to be investigated,” said Public Service Association
Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur
Fitzsimons, says.
“We are concerned that the Police
Mental Health Change Response Programme is setting a
precedent where Police are wiping their hands of callouts
relating to mental health, even in emergencies, and so
we’re asking the IPCA as part of our complaint to review
all Police procedures around mental health
callouts.
“The IPCA are the right body to investigate
this important matter since Police, Health NZ and the
Government have all overseen the Police withdrawing from
mental health call out work. The independence of the IPCA is
needed now.”
The mental health worker contacted Police
for support through the emergency line and identified
themselves as a mental health worker, but no assistance ever
arrived.
Fitzsimons says the incident is exactly what
mental health workers had feared since the announcement of
the Police’s Mental
Response Health Change Programme a year
ago.
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“Staff feedback to Health New Zealand and the
Police was very clear: more mental health workers will be
subjected to violence as a result of these changes. A PSA
survey of mental health staff at the time revealed that 91
per cent of workers believed the changes would increase
safety risks for them.
“Every mental health worker
should be safe at work and be able to get support from the
Police when they deem it necessary.”
Prior to the
Mental Health Change Programme, mental health workers had a
direct line to Police for emergency situations. They were
also able to request Police assistance ahead of time for
transporting patients in crisis or those known to become
aggressive.
The Police Mental Health Response Change
Programme is currently in its third phase of four, with the
final phase slated to start next year.
The PSA has
received an acknowledgement of the complaint from the IPCA
and the Police.
Other PSA comments on the Mental
Health Response Change Programme:
