Mental Health Crisis at the Bus Interchange
At 14:30 on a Wednesday, you are a uniformed ACT Policing officer at the Civic bus interchange. A 28-year-old man is standing near the ticket machines holding a broken bottle. He is shouting that 'the signals are coming through the walls' and swinging the bottle when people approach. About 40 shoppers are nearby, and buses are still running. He has not threatened anyone directly, but he is blocking access to a platform. His mother arrives and says he has schizophrenia, stopped his medication four days ago, and has previously been taken to hospital by police. She asks you not to hurt him. A mental health clinician is available by phone, and an ambulance is 18 minutes away. You have a partner and a Taser; neither of you has a shield. The man starts walking toward a group of teenagers.
1. What is your immediate plan to contain and communicate with the man?
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Issue: A person in crisis with a broken bottle near the public.
Action: Stop buses from the immediate platform and move shoppers back with tape or barriers. Keep 10–15 metres and cover. One officer speaks; the other watches his hands and the crowd. Use the man's name, short sentences, and ask about the 'signals'. Do not argue with his delusion. Call the mental health clinician on speaker and ask the mother to help from a safe distance. Ask him to put the bottle down and sit. Offer water or a quiet place. Avoid sudden movements and sirens. If he moves toward the teenagers, step between them and him at a safe distance, but do not grab unless necessary.
Why: Time, distance, and cover reduce the need for force. A single voice reduces confusion. The mother can help but must not be put at risk.
2. If he raises the bottle and steps toward you, what force options are available and what factors determine whether force is justified?
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Issue: Is force necessary and proportionate?
Factors: immediate threat to officers or the public, distance, the bottle as a weapon, his mental state, size, number of officers, alternatives, risk of Taser (falls, fire, cardiac), and whether a warning can be given.
Options: verbal warning and retreat; shield if available; Taser; baton; empty-hand; firearm only for imminent risk of death or serious harm.
Reasoning: A raised bottle at close range can cause serious injury, but mental illness alone does not authorise force. If he advances and ignores warnings, a Taser may be proportionate if the environment is safe. Do not use it if he is near water, fuel, or a hard drop. If he is contained and not advancing, keep talking.
Action: Give a clear warning, designate a less-lethal officer, and have others ready to restrain and handcuff for safety. Medical assessment immediately afterwards. Document everything.
3. What legal pathway and handover options apply once he is contained?
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Issue: Mental health response rather than purely criminal.
Action: If he meets the criteria under the Mental Health Act 2015 (ACT), apprehend him for assessment at an approved mental health facility. If he has committed an offence, consider whether a charge or diversion is appropriate. Hand over to ambulance and mental health staff with a summary of observations, force used, and risk. Notify his mother if he consents and it is safe. Give him written information about complaints and support. If he is not apprehended, complete a safety plan with the clinician and family.
Why: The Act provides a health pathway when risk and mental disorder are present. Arrest may be necessary for serious violence, but it should not be the default. Good handover reduces repeat crises and protects his rights.