An investigation into police approaches towards managing neurodivergent suspects and the experiences of neurodivergent people when encountering the police as suspects.

Abstract

This research explored police approaches towards managing neurodivergent suspects and the experiences of neurodivergent people when encountering the police as suspects.1 It examined several areas to discover how neurodivergent people thought they were managed and how police officers, including neurodivergent officers, thought they conducted themselves when dealing with neurodivergent suspects. While much has been written about the subject of police officers dealing with neurodivergent people in the criminal justice system there have been few studies that compare the interactions between these two groups. In addition, only recently has anyone considered including active neurodivergent input in neurodivergent research. This thesis looked at the police and neurodivergent suspects together and asked the neurodivergent participants to add their own thoughts and questions based on their lived experience. The primary aim of the research was to assess if improvements can be made to police management of neurodivergent suspects and assess where and how any improvements can be generated. Data was collected via a mixed method research design using online questionnaires. The research surveyed police officers in an English/Welsh regional force and neurodivergent people from across England and Wales who have encountered the police as suspects.
The findings presented in this thesis contribute original information to the field of neurodivergent suspect interactions with police. It expands existing knowledge in this area because data was obtained from neurodivergent police officers as well as neurotypical officers, which has not been discovered to have been done before, and the study asked the
neurodivergent cohort for their thoughts, opinions and lived experiences. This give a voice to neurodivergent people which is an uncommon occurrence. Also, it was conducted by a neurodivergent researcher.