The police union is confident the health sector can pick up the remainder of mental health callouts.  

Now there's new guidance to determine if Police are needed when health workers request non-emergency assistance or when people go missing from health facilities. 

It will free up roughly half-a-million policing hours every year.  

Police Association President Steve Watt told Andrew Dickens the new approach has been introduced in phases.  

He says it gives Health New Zealand the time to ensure it can fill in the gaps Police leave. 

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