Essential Autism Awareness Training for Police: Enhancing Community Trust

Mandatory training on autism awareness for police would equip officers with the skills needed to interact more effectively with neurodiverse communities, as well as increasing trusts and confidence, argues Edinburgh Napier University postgraduate student Victoria Paterson, whose own work with Police Scotland showed that officers “were really positive and wanted to get involved”, as she explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

❝Under the UK’s 2010 Equality Act, the police are required to include reasonable adjustments during these interactions; however, without an understanding of autism, knowing what adjustments are required is not practical.❞ - Victoria Paterson, Edinburgh Napier University

❝I thought police really didn’t want to learn about neurodiversity which research pointed to, but I found it was the opposite – people were really positive and wanted to get involved.❞ - Victoria Paterson, Edinburgh Napier University

❝Sensory sensitivities were highlighted as problematic during police encounters. Items frequently associated with police, flashing lights, loud sirens and physical touch can lead to sensory overload, which is distressing and disenabling.❞ - Victoria Paterson, Edinburgh Napier University

❝If marginalised communities do not feel connected to the police, it further erodes trust and legitimacy, and it could prevent the autistic community from engaging.❞ - Victoria Paterson, Edinburgh Napier University

❝Acknowledging how the autistic community perceives officers can provide the opportunity for a tailored approach to training and community engagement. It is useful to know that the majority of participants want to disclose their diagnosis but may need help to do so.❞ - Victoria Paterson, Edinburgh Napier University

❝It’s impossible for police to know everything, but in so many situations they are expected to know everything. It is their own mental health that suffers if they are ill-equipped, as well as that of the individuals they are interacting with.❞ - Victoria Paterson, Edinburgh Napier University

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