Police had a large presence at the public meetings. In central Auckland, there was a row of officers - one suggested giving hospital security staff the right to restrain people during a mental health episode. He also said pepper spray and tasers shouldn't be used on people in mental distress. He said: "We shouldn't put people in cells alongside hardened criminals, but we do."
In Masterton, a policeman agreed: "We realise that police cells are not a place for mental health persons, we've cut that down but where do we put them?"