WA nurses may get police power to help people in crisis

People experiencing a mental health crisis will receive better treatment under proposed co-operative police and nursing teams, says the West Australian government.

The government is proposing giving nurses special powers, such as being able to stop and search someone, to help police who encounter people in a crisis.

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said the teams would ensure people experiencing a sudden or escalation of a mental illness would be treated from a health perspective, rather than a justice one.

But opposition police spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said the plan had been done "on the hop", with the minister not even knowing how the powers would be brought about.

The government has not decided whether it will legislate the changes or ask the police commissioner to give nurses special constable powers, as he has done for Transperth guards.

Ms Roberts said she hoped the plan was not a ploy to cover up the fact the government has failed to deliver on its promise to employ more police.