The NSW Police Force continues to evolve to meet the complex challenges posed by mental health and suicide prevention issues.

NSW Health - NSW Police Force Memorandum of Understanding 2018

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been updated to reflect the amended Mental Health Act 2007 No 8. In addition, NSW Health and NSW Police Force agreed to broaden the MOU beyond people with a mental illness or mental disorder. The MOU now includes a section on patients in police custody who are brought to a health facility and a section on the management of public safety issues in health facilities.

The MOU sets out the principles to guide how staff from NSW Health and NSW Police will work together when responding to and delivering care and treatment to people accessing these services. It provides a framework that focusses on interagency cooperation to deliver care to patients in a safe environment. The MOU promotes a flexible, solution focussed approach to decision-making to provide for the wellbeing and safety of the patient and the safety of staff involved in their care.

Message from Secretary, NSW Health and NSW Police Commissioner (PDF, 265 kb)

NSW Health – NSW Police Force Memorandum of Understanding 2018 (PDF, 889 kb)

Review of the NSW Police Force response to mental health incidents in the community

The Summary Report of the New South Wales Police Force response to mental health incidents in the community considers the NSWPF role, responsibility and response to mental health incidents in the community.

The prevalence of mental ill-health continues to increase within the NSW community and there has been an increased dependence on police as the call of both first and last resort and an over reliance on police as the primary responders to emotional distress and mental health crises.

The Summary Report recommends that the NSWPF work with NSW Health to explore models for responding to mental health incidents in NSW consistent with the principles of the United Kingdom’s ‘Right Care Right Person’ (RCRP) model. The report is not intended to represent NSW Government policy.

An Executive level Steering Committee has been established by the NSWPF and NSW Health to consider the findings in the report and to develop options on an appropriate response model for mental health incidents for the Government’s consideration.

Read the report here.