Most policing districts will soon enter the second phase of withdrawing from mental health callouts - to cover large swathes of the country

The Waitemata, Counties Manukau, Waikato, and Tasman districts transitioned last month - to handing over detained patients within 60 minutes and applying tighter custody rules.

From May 19, Auckland City, Canterbury, Kaikoura, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Eastern, and Southern will follow suit, with some exclusions.

Assistant Commissioner, Mike Johnson, says safety remains the number one priority and Police will always respond in an emergency.