Autistic girl 16 arrested for saying police officer looked like her lesbian nana

My friend fosters teenagers. One of them got in a bit of minor trouble and they had a visit from 2 Policemen. She explained that his behaviour was quite normal for him and said he was autistic.

They said “what’s that?” She tried to explain but they just looked blankly at her.

I don't see this situation as revolving around this girls autism, or even her behaviour.

The police brought her home, no problem so far.

The problem came about because of the need for one officer to take offence when the comment about being a lesbian who reminded her of her nanna, came about.

There is nothing hateful in the actual words use, but the police officer decided to interpret it so.

This is the problem with having such a thing as a hate crime law.

Not sure what you are saying, Primrose.

Namsnanny

I don't see this situation as revolving around this girls autism, or even her behaviour.

The police brought her home, no problem so far.

The problem came about because of the need for one officer to take offence when the comment about being a lesbian who reminded her of her nanna, came about.

There is nothing hateful in the actual words use, but the police officer decided to interpret it so.

This is the problem with having such a thing as a hate crime law.

Are you 100% sure that's all that happened? What do you know of any behaviour or language used on the journey home? Have you seen any recording other than the one the mother made, which could have been edited for all I know?

The first group to pick up on this was Turning Point UK, which is known for its "anti-woke" views. Its emphasis was from the beginning on the alleged homophobic comment rather than the trauma the girl suffered or the background to the incident. For me, that was a tad suspicious. The narrative, of course, for them was that an innocent girl was suffering to protect any criticism of a protected characteristic.

What do you know of any behaviour or language used on the journey home?
Do you not think if any behaviour or language used on the journey home warranted arrest the car would have turned around and not delivered her home? As I said in a previous post I'm the mother of a police officer and often have to defend unfounded criticisms of the police, but whatever preceded the published video there is no doubt the situation was handled very badly and with no adjustment made for the girl's conditions. The girl has been released with no charges and no further action expected. So many questions still unanswered..... who was the appropriate adult with her when questioned (definitely not a parent) and was she represented by a solicitor during interview?

I agree with you that the situation was handled badly and I haven't disputed that.

I also agree that there are unanswered questions, which is why I'm not willing to join the "trial by social media" jury.

Agreed - as I've said from the beginning, trial by social media - including of course revealing the daughter's ID to the public - little bits of information to construct a narrative in this case decided by the mother

- how can it end well for the young woman?

Wyllow3

Well...it tells me things maybe weren't entirely right at home, thats speculation of course, and be that as it may:

*but what mum of an autistic child would decide to splash their child's ID all over social media*

I’m tending to agree here with Wyllow.
I don’t know why seven police officers were needed for one sixteen year old girl.
I think the mother’s behaviour of filming the incident was reprehensible.

maddyone

Wyllow3

Well...it tells me things maybe weren't entirely right at home, thats speculation of course, and be that as it may:

*but what mum of an autistic child would decide to splash their child's ID all over social media*

I’m tending to agree here with Wyllow.
I don’t know why seven police officers were needed for one sixteen year old girl.
I think the mother’s behaviour of filming the incident was reprehensible.

In previous times I would have 100% agreed with I think the mother’s behaviour of filming the incident was reprehensible but even as the mother of a police officer I now would think this is a required defence of biased reporting. I hold the blonde officer in such contempt I am at a loss for words!!

The only reporting has come from the mother

Anniebach

The only reporting has come from the mother

Except for West Yorkshire police confirming the girl was interviewed with an appropriate adult and no further action expected against her. Which rather suggests it was a huge mountain made out of a molehill. My severely autistic grandson would suffer repercussions from such actions for months if not years, but hey ho what do neurodiverse people count for? Absolutely nothing!

Would the police have made that statement if the mother hadn’t posted hers on social media, she made it public

Anniebach

Would the police have made that statement if the mother hadn’t posted hers on social media, she made it public

Yes she did, and while I cannot know her motives I think it's actually irrelevant. To me, as the mum of a serving officer, I would have been ashamed if my son had been involved in this incident and had behaved as any of these officers behaved. Thankfully my son would most certainly not have behaved in such a dismissive way, maybe why he has 5 commendations so far?

With respect you don’t know how the officers behaved , I speak as a widow of a serving police officer killed on duty.

I appreciate your circumstances are different to mine Anniebach but my son was beaten to a pulp on a London street at 2am and the offender 'got off' for a technicality. I stand by my opinion that the behaviour I see portrayed on the released video by the girl's mother gives me much concern for the behaviour of the officers featured. I do realise it's a snapshot, but it is concerning. Our police do so 'by consent', I want it to continue in that ethos.

growstuff

Namsnanny

I don't see this situation as revolving around this girls autism, or even her behaviour.

The police brought her home, no problem so far.

The problem came about because of the need for one officer to take offence when the comment about being a lesbian who reminded her of her nanna, came about.

There is nothing hateful in the actual words use, but the police officer decided to interpret it so.

This is the problem with having such a thing as a hate crime law.

Are you 100% sure that's all that happened? What do you know of any behaviour or language used on the journey home? Have you seen any recording other than the one the mother made, which could have been edited for all I know?

The first group to pick up on this was Turning Point UK, which is known for its "anti-woke" views. Its emphasis was from the beginning on the alleged homophobic comment rather than the trauma the girl suffered or the background to the incident. For me, that was a tad suspicious. The narrative, of course, for them was that an innocent girl was suffering to protect any criticism of a protected characteristic.

What do you know of the behaviour or language used on the journey home?

I know the police issued a statement almost immediately she was arrested.
That in itself was very unusual.

I'm also pretty sure if they had any unwarranted behaviour in the car or street, we would have been told about it in the statement, which actually went to far in revealing information on a ongoing event.

The young 16 year old was brought home in the police car with 2 officers.

Those 2 officers were invited into her home, so she didn't seem to have erupted in the street.

I believe she was arrested on Homophobic public order offence.

I believe I'm correct (and I'm sure you will correct me if not), a person cannot be arrested on a public order offence, when in their home

Therefore, the arrest was unlawful

7 yes seven more police were called out to the home later.

She was not violent, or brandishing a weapon.

The police had their body cams on, yet no footage of the girl misbehaving has be corroborated.

What would you surmise from that?

When the mother says she has autism someone on camera replies I don't care.

The young police woman's own behaviour leaves a lot to be desired, if you watch closely on the video.

As for the mother filming this, the way some of the police behave nowadays I think she had great forethought to do so.
Now there is footage from both the police and the victim.

Who I believe has no charges to answer to.

But it has come to a pretty pass, when it takes 7 or more officers, pulled out from answering more urgent calls to deal with a situation such as this.

It sometimes seems, if you look at the crime stats. that some of the police need to re equate themselves with the reality of their job.

I feel very sorry for those who are valiantly trying to make a difference.

You find a lot of things suspicious about this, and look for answers in the time before she was taken home, and off camera.

If I were to question anything, I would ask why does this incident require that number of officers to attend?

Rosie51

I appreciate your circumstances are different to mine Anniebach but my son was beaten to a pulp on a London street at 2am and the offender 'got off' for a technicality. I stand by my opinion that the behaviour I see portrayed on the released video by the girl's mother gives me much concern for the behaviour of the officers featured. I do realise it's a snapshot, but it is concerning. Our police do so 'by consent', I want it to continue in that ethos.

another good post

And I refuse to be a social media judge without all the evidence.

The words spoken could have been said with malice, taunting,
curiosity , affection.

Primrose53

Anniebach

It could have been avoided, why was a 16 year old out at that time of night getting drunk and why didn’t her mother or a family member bring her home.

She was staying with her older sister and went to a Pride event. She got drunk and her sister could not contact their Mum to arrange to get her home. Her Mum was asleep, she is a cancer survivor.

The sister then rang the Police for help to get her home and says she told them she was autistic.

Funny that isn't it. Her mum has a mobile phone she can use to film the police, but her daughter who is looking after her vulnerable sister can't contact her.

The Met recently announced that after 31st August it will not deal with calls about mental health problems, although autism is not an MH it would seem to me that it is not the police's responsibility to take home autistic children who are beyond their parent's control.

I agree Glorrianny. I was wondering why the police were called to bring an apparently intoxicated girl home. I appreciate she was underage and therefore shouldn’t have been drunk. I appreciate she has autism but that doesn’t make her the responsibility of the police. Where’s the family responsibility in this? Why was a sixteen year old autistic girl out getting drunk at a Pride event? Surely the way to take her home would have been in a taxi? A huge lack of family responsibilities and proper care for a vulnerable girl is shown here.

I still don’t understand why seven police officers were needed for this incident.
Nor do I understand why the girl was taken into custody.
I’m baffled!

As to the specifics of the incident, I'm waiting as I've said for the full picture.

But generally it would, in an ideal world, be dealt with by relevant workers. I've cross checked in 4 cities in the UK and like in mine, in all of them Autism is under Mental Health services, although by separate Autism Units. Far from ideal, I agree, but that's the situation.

But it's been many, many years since workers on duty were available to come out at night.

The police therefore deal with situations by default.

The Met situation is they have refused to attend situations unless life is at risk:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/28/met-police-to-stop-attending-emergency-mental-health-calls

But there is no increase in provision for workers of any speciality to attend situations. its my opinion that this is where we should be looking to "put right" for those in need across the board.

Wyllow3

Not sure what you are saying, Primrose.

I am saying that some Police Officers have no idea what autism is.

Yes I understand what you’re saying Wyllow but I remain baffled, I can’t understand at all why there were seven police officers. It looks like overkill. I also think whoever took offence at the remark of an autistic, drunk , sixteen year old girl needs to, what’s the phrase, give their head a wobble. It’s a massive over reaction.

Why should police have to put up with offensive comments ?