Recent incidents have highlighted the lethal consequences of police responses to mental health crisis, with four fatal incidents in the last four months.
Each of the four deaths occurred during interactions with NSW Police. The most recent was the case of Krista Kach, who was tasered and shot with bean bag rounds after police were called to her home to perform a welfare check.
PIAC is one of a group of legal experts, civil liberties organisations and academics that has signed an open letter to the NSW Government saying this case shows clearly that police are not equipped to respond to a person in a mental health crisis, and that we need to find a better way to respond.
To discuss further, Kira Levin, Principal Solicitor for the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service joined 2SER Breakfast.