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

Stupid reason for an arrest

I think the police officer could have let this go though, 7 officers and an arrest over a stupid comment is too much.

What's stupid about it? It might be perfectly truthful.

Primrose53

It said on TV this morning that the girl said the police woman looked like her lesbian nana.

Even if they were told the girl was autistic they probably don’t know what being autistic even means. They know everything there is to know about painting rainbows on police cars but not about disabilities. they need educating.

as far as I know, the Police are not a taxi service for drunk underage people, whether neurodiverse or not. Had the police left her to continue drinking, and she had been harmed, no doubt her Mother would blame them for that too. Saying that the Police probably don't even know what autistic means is a nasty comment and unnecessary

This young lady needs better support at home, I wouldn't want my autistic daughter to be out drunk at midnight at 16 and I wouldn't want her all over social media at 16.

I think the police officer could have let this go though, 7 officers and an arrest over a stupid comment is too much.

Unless her behaviour was giving them a cause for concern that she may hurt herself or others there is no need to take her into custody when she probably wasn't meaning anything homophobic.

I would have left one diplomatic officer to sit quietly until she calmed down and explain why her behaviour could get her into serious trouble

everyone’s autism is different
One of my grandchildren was diagnosed at age 8, 20 years ago. He’s very intelligent, socially isolated and has never had ‘meltdowns’, or been drunk and out of control.

We don’t have all the details about this situation. From what little we do know, it seems it escalated at the family home and rather than try and calm things, the mother filmed then posted on social media

Anniebach

maddy is it fair to expect every police officer to have full knowledge of behavioural problems

Thank you for putting so simply what I feel.

(as well as what I also feel, which is my description a page back on why community support for those with behavioural and serious emotional difficulties has been cut back to non existence and the police left to mop things up)

Everyone's autism is different, Everyones bi-polar or psychosis is different. these are specialist conditions that need specialist knowledge.
Everyone's not easy to understand 'behaviour" especially when drunk is not predictable. Things can kick off unexpectedly. Police cannot discern possible problematic family relationships.

We need to know more

I think its unwise to pass judgments on a small amount of social media footage, and we may never get the full picture anyway, because that young person has needs to have details of the condition protected.

and yes I would expect a policeman or woman to have "heard" of autism, but that would not have been helpful when faced with any one individual.

Primrose53

It said on TV this morning that the girl said the police woman looked like her lesbian nana.

Even if they were told the girl was autistic they probably don’t know what being autistic even means. They know everything there is to know about painting rainbows on police cars but not about disabilities. they need educating.

For de real years now, the police have been the only reliable , available emergency service.
The bulk of their time has been taken up responding to concerns about mental health, which is why Lancashire and other forces announced officers will only respond to mh concerns if life is at risk.

Quite how they got involved in bringing a drunk 16 year old home during the night remains unknown. It’s possible the family is ‘known’ to officers and that led to them getting involved.

Police aren’t mh experts, but the do get good training. My experience has been they’re experts at preventing incidents escalating.

growstuff

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

That is a good goal to have.

Anniebach

maddy is it fair to expect every police officer to have full knowledge of behavioural problems

Perhaps not Annie.
I just think a bit of give and take on both sides could have avoided it all.

Many people have a very poor understanding of autism .
This shouldn't have happened .
I've noticed that some autistic people have trouble controlling what they say .
My daughters ex partner upset every one around him with his caustic comments .

Ahhh yes, you’re probably right Glorrianny. I suppose it could have escalated and extra ‘troops’ were called in.
Still seems like a big reaction to a drunk, autistic, sixteen year old.
Her mother could have calmed her down and tucked her up in bed to sleep it off.
The police officer could have not taken offence at the remark.
I suppose that’s far too sensible and low key in today’s world.

maddy is it fair to expect every police officer to have full knowledge of behavioural problems

The mother claims she was assaulted by the police , could she have telephoned the station ?

Because there were only the two standard patrol officers at that point.

But is it offensive Annie?
The girl is autistic and so doesn’t have the social normaties as the rest of us, and she was drunk. Clearly she shouldn’t have been drunk and in my opinion, the mother was negligent in allowing her to go out with her sister, where she got drunk. The sister was even more negligent in allowing that to happen when she was older and was probably buying the drinks.
The police should not have to put up with the bad behaviour that they do contend with, but this girl should have been put to bed to sleep it off. Nothing was gained by taking her into custody.
The mother should be ashamed of herself.

Can the Police release the body cam footage of what went on before the mothers camera recording?

I’m assuming they can’t because the people involved can be identified.

And the complete picture won’t ever come to light be at no charge has been made.

Seven officers to deal with “an autistic, drunken ” does seem like overkill. So something happened at the house that made them call for extra help. At the point where the girl was handed over to her parents and they should have been able to just leave.

maddyone

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.

I would imagine after the incident the police officer who made the accusation called in extra help as to make the arrest, as she and her colleague would become witnesses if there was a case. It probably went out to all units and more than one responded. I do also wonder though if there was a fear that things might escalate and other family members become involved.

I was just thinking about "the good old days" when she would have been stuck in a cell for the night, and possibly be up before the "beak" next morning, or just thrown out when she was sober-"Those were the days"!!!!

Why should police have to put up with offensive comments ?

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.

Wyllow3

Not sure what you are saying, Primrose.

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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