Critical essay: Fatal encounters involving people experiencing mental illness

Abstract

While the use of force by police is relatively uncommon, research has found that it is used much more commonly in instances where police come into contact with people with lived experience of mental illness. This over-representation is evident in instances where the police have some prior knowledge that the person has a mental illness, when they suspect that the person may have a mental illness, and also when it later becomes apparent that the person they interacted with has a mental illness. In some cases, these situations escalate and result in fatal force being used by police. A critical understanding of the catalysts and other factors associated with the need to use, and ramifications of, fatal force have not been widely articulated. This essay will consider outcomes from some recent Australian coronial investigations into fatal shootings by police of people found to have a mental illness. It will reflect on how the key issues raised and recommendations arising from these inquests contribute to changes in policing policy and practice and a revised approach to de-escalation, limit setting and use of force training.