Media Release

12 August 2003

Another Community Care Failure

New Zealand First is calling for the re-establishment of secure mental health institutions after an incident in which a Kaitaia mental health patient attempted to hit a police officer with an axe today.

The police were called to assist mental health workers who were trying to enforce an order to make the patient take his medication.

“Why is this patient out in the community when he is quite obviously violent and what safeguards are there to ensure the patient regularly takes his medication?” asked law and order spokesperson Ron Mark.

“This is another example that proves that Labour’s misguided plans to put all mental health patients into the community is a failure.

“Regretfully whilst Labour continues to pretend this is not so every month somewhere in New Zealand a new victim is created as a result of a mental health patient with inadequate supervision and inadequate care.

“Do we need more senseless deaths before this politically correct Government realises that secure mental health institutions are a necessity,” said Mr Mark.

ENDS

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