Autistic teenager being held in police cell

Prime Minister John Key is investigating the detention of an autistic teenager with the mental age of 11 in a police cell after health authorities said they couldn't help her because she was not mentally ill.

Emma Sweenen, 18, has been detained in Nelson Police Station since Friday after her mother complained that she had attacked her.

She told TVNZ Emma was a danger to the public and needed professional help.

Nelson's Mental Health Unit said while Emma had behavioural problems she was not mentally ill, so was not covered by the Mental Health Act.

Mr Key said he did not know the details of the case but would look into it.

"It sounds pretty horrible, I'll need to get some more details on it," he told TVNZ this morning.

- NZPA