People experiencing mental health crises are better served by specialists rather than police, whose presence can instead escalate potentially fatal situations, an internal review has found.
NSW Police released the findings of a major review into the force's response to mental health incidents within the community on Thursday after a series of deadly confrontations involving officers.
Police across the state respond to more than 60,000 mental health incidents annually, a 60 per cent increase since 2018.
But in most of those call-outs no offence had been committed and there was no threat of violence, the review noted.
While police were best equipped to respond to incidents involving criminality and public-order concerns, other health professionals were able to provide more appropriate care for people experiencing mental health crises, it said.
Yasmin Catley says people experiencing mental ill health need appropriate medical care. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said there was a consensus that people with mental-health issues needed appropriate medical care.
"This is a complex issue and it's important we have the right processes and support in place to address mental health incidents within the community," she said.
"We want to explore an alternate model so police can respond to crime first and foremost, and those experiencing mental ill health can receive the right care."
The report also acknowledged police could sometimes escalate a situation involving a person with mental illness and "increase the potential of adverse outcomes".
In 2023, the police watchdog found half of all NSW police-involved deaths or serious injuries involved a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
The presence of police can escalate potentially fatal situations, the report found. (Tracey Nearmy/AAP PHOTOS)
Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said a new response to mental health crises was necessary.
"We are witnessing a shift in the prevalence and type of mental illness, as such a new response must be considered," she said.
"We hear the calls for change from the sector and the recent NSW parliamentary inquiry into community mental health, and we know action cannot wait."
NSW Police and health officials are working through the report's findings to develop options for an alternate response to mental health-related incidents.
A specialist Mental Health Command has also been set up to provide advice and oversight within police ranks.
Todd McKenzie's death involved a deadly police interaction. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
In April, an inquest into the death of Todd McKenzie, who was shot three times while having a psychotic episode, found police were not adequately equipped to deal with mental health calls.
Mr McKenzie's death was one in a series of recent cases involving deadly police interactions with people during mental health-related episodes.
In September 2023, Krista Kach died after being tasered and hit with a bean-bag round following a 10-hour standoff with police in Newcastle.
Four months before that, 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who had dementia, died after police tasered her at a Cooma nursing home.
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