A study from the University of Auckland has shown a clear disparity in the use of tasers against mental health patients, but police say they respond to the level of threat of danger, not what is behind the threat, and that will not change.
The paper, published recently in the International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, found tasers were more than twice as likely (27%) to be discharged at mental health emergencies than at criminal arrests (10%).
The study analysed taser deployment during the year-long police trial in 2007.
Study author Anthony O'Brien, a senior lecturer in nursing at the University of Auckland, said the study was the first of its kind in the world.
"No other research has looked specifically at the use of tasers in mental health emergencies as opposed to criminal cases, and some of the results are very worrying."
Mr O'Brien said he was shocked to find that tasers were used twice inside mental health facilities in laser painting mode.
"I would be extremely alarmed if we were moving the way of the United States, where hospital staff have been given tasers. That is completely contrary to New Zealand policy, which is aimed at improving inpatient services," he said.
The study also found Maori and Pacific people were far more likely to be tasered than Europeans, and suggested police were more likely to manage incidents involving Maori and Pacific people as a criminal case, rather than a mental health issue.
Mr O'Brien said he would like to see the memorandum of understanding between the police and the mental health services reviewed to include monitoring of the use of tasers on people with mental health issues.
A Police National Headquarters spokesman said police understood where mental health authorities were coming from, but he reiterated that police responses to threats of violence were based on the level of the immediate threat, not what was behind the threat.
An officer decided what level of force was required, based on the imminent physical threat.
Police worked with mental health personnel on the best way to work with people with mental health issues, he said.
