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

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"!!!!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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 .

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.

growstuff

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

That is a good goal to have.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

Stupid reason for an arrest

Oh, I see. Yes. In fact it's just an excuse for some silly power freak to wield her authority. Goodness knows why not one of those 6 other policemen said "hang on a minute..." or some such.

Non-crime means non-crime. Why don't the police get that?

VioletSky

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

Yes, this.

Wyllow we all know services have been cut to the bone, but I doubt that a mental health professional would have been around at the Pride event or at the girl’s home late at night..
Are you saying that a mental health professional might have been called out if there were more of them?
I don’t know for sure from what’s been reported, but this doesn’t seem as if it was an emergency. No one appeared to be at risk. The girl should have been received by her mother and gone to bed. There was no need for this escalation.

The mother has informed the world what the girl allegedly said, is it the truth ?

HousePlantQueen

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

As has already been said he mother was asleep when the older daughter rang her to say the autistic sister was drunk. maybe she wasn’t used to drinking alcohol or maybe somebody spiked her drink we don’t know. But her sister had the sense to try to get her home as she is vulnerable.

When she was unable to get through to the Mother, she asked the Police to help. My friend, the foster carer frequently has to ring the Police because her foster kids are in a mess. It’s not right that the Police are used like this but it is part of their job it seems.

How you can possibly call my comment about the Police “nasty and unnecessary” is beyond me. I am giving you a true experience. The 2 policemen who called had no idea what autistic meant. You cannot explain that in a few minutes but surely there should be a named person in their division who does and can advise them correctly about how to proceed.

Anniebach

Why should police have to put up with offensive comments ?

I don’t think anybody has suggested they should Anniebach.

People need to realise that the police aren't there to deal with this type of social situation. They haven't got the manpower for a start.
I don't like trial by social media as we weren't witness to what happened and mostly have the mother's account.
The police should not have been called to this incident.
If you want to blame anybody blame the government for not enough police officers and social services.

AGAA4

People need to realise that the police aren't there to deal with this type of social situation. They haven't got the manpower for a start.
I don't like trial by social media as we weren't witness to what happened and mostly have the mother's account.
The police should not have been called to this incident.
If you want to blame anybody blame the government for not enough police officers and social services.

But in lots of cases they are! As I said earlier, my foster carer friend is instructed by social services to call the Police if any of her foster kids go missing or are even later home than they should be. The Police then locate them and bring them back to her. Can you suggest who else should do this?

I personally don’t think it’s their job either but that’s the way it is.

Anniebach

The mother has informed the world what the girl allegedly said, is it the truth ?

I believe what was said was recorded on the police-people's body cams.

And in any case saying someone looks like someone else is not offensive.