(Photo: QPU)
August 11, 2024
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has called for a Royal Commission into mental health in the wake of three recent police shootings in Queensland.
A QPU statement, issued after Friday night’s incident at Kingaroy Hospital, said police were frustrated with having to confront people in severe mental health distress.
“There’s something wrong with a system that is not delivering care to those who need assistance not incarceration,” the statement said.
“Frontline, first response police do not want to use their firearms but won’t hesitate if their lives or other community members are at risk.
“Police across Australia are being left damaged having to deal with constant de-escalation of those troubled and armed with weapons who pose a threat to officers and the community.”
Mr Leavers told the media he blamed “a breakdown” in the health care system for incidents that involved police.
“Mental health is something that the police deal with on a daily basis,” he said.
Society needed to come up with solutions “to ensure people get treatment and they do not enter into the criminal justice system”.
Mr Leavers called for a Royal Commission in mental health services “to seek a better way to provide urgent treatment for those in need”.
“We are damaging a generation of police who are being called to respond when everything else has failed in society,” he said.
Police have not confirmed whether mental health was an issue in Friday night’s incident.
Speaking on Saturday morning, Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said he could not comment, as this would form part of the investigation.
A hospital staff member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, has told southburnett.com.au there is an urgent need for security officers to be stationed at the hospital full-time, saying Friday night was only the latest in a string of concerning incidents at the facility.
- Related article: Man Shot At Kingaroy Hospital
