BEING – Mental Health Consumers and Mental Health Carers NSW, the two peak bodies representing mental health lived experience of consumers and carers have today written to the NSW Police Minister Catley to protest at police abuse of people living with mental health challenges and calling on, not just an apology for abuses committed, but also definitive and urgent action to ensure the abuse stops.
The action was prompted by two recent court cases and the death of Collin Burling, which illustrate why the police cannot be trusted to respond appropriately to those in mental health crisis.
The letter, endorsed by eight other leading advocacy bodies calls for:
- A public apology to victims and their loved ones
- A truth-telling roundtable
- For the police to engage in community consultation
- Public reporting of all police critical incidents involving people with mental health challenges
- Mandated, high-quality police mental health training
- Clarity over the role and function of the NSW Police Mental Health Division
Click here to read the letter in full.