Mental health register needed: lobby group

A mental health group says a system should be set up to tell police officers when they are dealing with patient with a history of violence.

The Queensland coroner yesterday found four officers were justified in shooting dead four mental health patients in separate incidents in the south-east over a three year period.

But coroner Michael Barnes criticised the state's mental health services in his findings.

Mental Health Association of Queensland spokesman Ian Hay says the concept of a register is controversial, but it could help officers and patients.

"Police should be aware that this is a person who has this particular history and if something occurs at that address, then somebody from the community mental health service goes along with the police," he said.