Police have admitted to misidentifying an 11-year-old girl, who was taken to a mental health facility, handcuffed, and injected with antipsychotic drugs, as a missing 20-year-old patient.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora has apologised and launched an investigation into the incident, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon this morning described it as “incredibly concerning”.
Police in Waikato were called to the Fairfield Bridge in Hamilton after a female described as being in her 20s was seen climbing onto the railings at around 6.40am on March 9.
“Fearing for her safety, police units, including a police boat, responded immediately, and staff attempted to speak to the female,” Superintendent Scott Gemmell said.
The girl could not give the responding officers any details about herself and had no personal identification on her.
Concerned she was suffering from a mental health episode, police decided to take her to Waikato Hospital for assessment.
“The female got into a patrol car without requiring assistance or force and was not handcuffed,” Gemmell said.
When they arrived at the hospital, Gemmell said the girl’s behaviour “caused further concern for her safety”, and she was handcuffed, “which was done without force”.
According to the New Zealand Herald, the girl had autism and was non-verbal, and she had been injected with medication at the hospital.
“Police arranged for her to be seen by mental health professionals, while continuing to identify her,” Gemmell said.
Officers initially though the girl was a local woman and officers then sought to confirm this with a mental health service provider who knew the woman.
“Based on their advice and information available to police at the time, police shared their assessment with Waikato Hospital staff, including their rationale for the nominated identity.
“The incorrectly nominated person was not involved in any earlier occurrence and was not being sought by police.”
Reported missing
At around 6pm, almost 12 hours after the incident on the bridge, a woman reported that her 11-year-old daughter had gone missing.
“Police staff immediately disseminated information about her, including a photo, to all staff, as she was considered a vulnerable missing person due to her age and several other factors.”
One member of police staff recognised the girl as the one who had been picked up by police earlier that day, and her family was “immediately” notified and given her location.
Police took a family member to pick up the 11-year-old.
“We know that the events of that morning were likely distressing for the young girl, and her family. We are working with Waikato Hospital to review the events of that day, and better understand how the misidentification occurred,” Gemmell said.
He said officers acted in the “best interests of keeping someone safe”, a person who they believed needed mental health care.
In a statement, Te Whatu Ora deputy chief executive for Te Manawa Taki Cath Cronin said police told health staff she was a missing patient.
“Police advised our staff a short time later that they had identified the young person as a missing patient, subject to Section 29 of the Mental Health Act, and they were admitted to our care.
“Police called about 12 hours later to advise they had misidentified the young person. It was not the person they had originally thought.”
She acknowledged the distress the incident may have caused and apologised.
“We are very sorry. We have apologised to the young person and their whānau and will remain in contact with them.”
Cronin said a review was being carried out, which would look into any medication or treatment the girl was given.
“We want to fully understand what happened.
“Our staff work extremely hard to provide the best care they can for people coming into our care and are deeply disappointed this young person was incorrectly identified.”
‘Incredibly concerning’ – Luxon
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the incident was “incredibly distressing and incredibly concerning”.
“Obviously there was a misidentification that happened there between police. There is now a health inquiry going on and we need to really get to the bottom of that, that is incredibly distressing and worrying.
“As a parent, you identify with what is a horrific set of circumstances that has happened, and… it’s just incredibly distressing and concerning, massive amounts of empathy and concern for her and her family.”
He said it was “unacceptable” that Health NZ took two weeks before they briefed Health Minister Simeon Brown, and asked whether staff involved should lose their jobs, he added, “by all means, there should be accountability in the system”.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said anti-psychotic drugs were used during the incident.
“But let me be really clear, the police, in my view, from the minute they received a call from members of the public [who] were very concerned about this young woman’s situation, have done nothing but try to support and care for her, including taken to the hospital.
“Through that process, there was some misidentification with anti-psychotic drugs.”
