@article{ref1,
title="The nature of police shootings in New Zealand: a comparison of mental health and non-mental health events",
journal="International journal of law and psychiatry",
year="2021",
author="Thom, Katey and O'Brien, Anthony J. and Exeter, Daniel J. and Quince, Khylee and Kidd, Jacquie and McKenna, Brian and Gordon, Sarah",
volume="74",
number="",
pages="e101648-e101648",
abstract="The use of firearms by police in mental health-related events has not been previously researched in New Zealand. This study analysed reports of investigations  carried out by the Independent Police Conduct Authority between 1995 and 2019. We  extracted data relating to mental health state, demographics, setting, police  response, outcome of shooting, and whether the individual was known to police,  mental health services, and with a history of mental distress or drug use. Of the  258 reports analysed, 47 (18%) involved mental health-related events compared to 211  (82%) classified as non-mental health events. Nineteen (40.4%) of the 47 mental  health events resulted in shootings, compared to 31 (14.8%) of the 211 non-mental  health events. Of the 50 cases that involved shootings 38% (n = 19) were identified  as mental health events compared to 62% (n = 31) non-mental health events. Over half  of the mental health events (n = 11, 57.9%) resulted in fatalities, compared to  35.5% (n = 11) of the non-mental health events. Cases predominantly involved young  males. We could not ascertain the ethnicity of individuals from the IPCA reports. Across all shooting events, a high proportion of individuals possessed a weapon,  predominantly either a firearm or a knife, and just under half were known to police  and had known substance use. Of the 19 mental health events, 47.4% (n = 9) of  individuals were known to mental health services and in 89.5% (n = 17) of cases  whānau (family) were aware of the individual's current (at the time of the event)  mental health distress and/or history. These findings suggest opportunities to  prevent the escalation of events to the point where they involve shootings. Lack of  ethnicity data limits the accountability of the IPCA and is an impediment to  informed discussion of police response to people of different ethnicities, and Māori  in particular, in New Zealand.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0160-2527",
doi="10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101648",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101648"
}