Published on 12, July, 2020
Firstly: As the (annoying) commentry indicates we don't know all the facts here.
Secondly: It's a "zero hedge" article featuring PJW, so will be utter anathema to some people.
Thirdly: It's morbidly interesting, and somewhat thought provoking.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/arrested-saying-lesbian
That video was a very uncomfortable watch.
The girl was cowering under the stairs, screaming in distress. The mother clearly told officers that her daughter is autistic and one of them responds with "I don't care". The mother clearly told officers that her daughter doesn't like being touched, as part of being autistic. The police still physically dragged her out and arrested her.
Was there not one officer there with some autism awareness training, who could have stepped in and stopped what was happening? There seemed to be a lot of police present. Shocking
What arrestable offence had she committed? If the "public order offence" was the old standby of s.5 Public Order Act 1968. then
" (1)A person is guilty of an offence if he—
(a)uses threatening [F1or abusive] words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or
(b)displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening [F1or abusive],
within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.
(2)An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and the other person is also inside that or another dwelling. "
If the alleged remarks took place in the home, as seems to be implied, I think the parent should get legal advice as to whether the arrest was unlawful, if so, whether there is a case for wrongful arrest, or assault. Police constables are personally liable for how they exercise their authority.
If the officer said " I don't care " that could lead to all sorts of questions. Assuming it was on the body camera and the image does not get accidentally "lost". As Peter says, there are similarities with ZH v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis. Presumably that is part of the training for police officers.
I wonder whether the police will show as much enthusiasm in seeking out and charging the adults who supplied the alcohol?
Autonomistic said:Was there not one officer there with some autism awareness training, who could have stepped in and stopped what was happening? There seemed to be a lot of police present. Shocking
The teenager was drunk in public (aged 16 so was drinking illegally) and the police response was decent to start with (ie we're taking you home) then what we are told by the media is that the girl used a phrase that borders on a hate crime in our warped society and the police woman took exception to be told she looks like a lesbian.
Two minor strikes should not have escalated to the end situation but we don't know the whole story.
The police are using body cam footage to review what actually happened so we can see if this is being blown out of proportion by the media in search of a sensationalist story. I expect the truth lies between the stories told by both sides.
Being autistic is not a "get out of jail free card" and the police officer is entitled to take exception to the perceived insult. Comon sense should have prevented the escallation though, but what if the police officer was also autistic? Would that have made a difference in how she is being villified now?
I don't know if the police get training on dealing with autistic people, ADHD people, bipolar people or any one of the many conditions & illnesses out there - I supspct not as this would take time and money.
In the end I expect this will just get swept under the rug of an internal investigation by the police.
It does highlight the fact that we need better ways to educate society on the different spectrums to facilitate our interactions.