The second phase of Police withdrawal from mental-health callouts starts in parts of the country next week

From Monday, detained mental health patients will be handed over within 60 minutes at Waitemata, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Nelson-Marlborough, and West Coast EDs.

Police will also tighten custody rules to reduce unnecessary assessments.

Assistant Commissioner, Mike Johnson, says Police will make sure handovers are done safely.

He says they want Police staff dealing with issues to keep the public safe, as they expect.