Police refused to intervene with violent patient, mental health staff say
Staff at a Wellington mental health facility report that police officers refused to intervene during a violent incident involving a patient. Health authorities and police are currently reviewing the incident, which involved staff physically bracing a door to prevent a patient from escaping or causing harm.
Why it matters
The incident highlights systemic tensions between mental health service providers and law enforcement regarding the management of high-risk patients.
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File photo: Getty Images By Kate Green of RNZ
Staff at a mental health facility in Wellington say police officers stood by while a violent patient tried to break down a door and threatened to hurt them.
They say a small team of staff twice took turns holding the door to the man's room shut, once for more than an hour, and when police arrived they refused to intervene.
Te Whatu Ora and NZ Police are reviewing the incident, with the latter saying they would not comment on claims the officers wouldn't step in while the review is underway.
Health NZ confirmed in a statement that an incident took place on May 30 at the Te Whare Ahuru Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit at Hutt Hospital.
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