Trigger warning: Girl gets arrested, seemingly for being Autistic in a built up area.

I’ve heard about this case and regardless of autism awareness training, it’s a clear case of many people within societal attitudes and perceptions simply refusing to understand what it’s like to be autistic and instead going off of preconceived notions and myths about autism - there is still attitudes out there that are only too ready and willing to believe horrible things about autistic people and regard (and label) autistic people with horrible names, they believe that because autistic people are deemed (by them) to not have the required levels of “cop on” and common sense, that they should be permitted to do anything on thier own nor live alone without a “minder” and aside from a “cure” for autism, they believe that the only way to “manage” autism is by means of ultra strict discipline because they deem that the person with autism “does not understand that they are “wrong” by default” and need “careful management” 

And it is this minority of people who simply do not want to understand, and perhaps the slightly lazy ones who do not feel they have the time to understand, Who need to be metaphorically beaten around the head with a copy of the equality act.

people worked really hard to make sure that disability was included in that act, to make sure that autism could be a valid excuse under law for all sorts of slights and social faux pas that autistic people might be punished for.

this legislation was intended to protect us and we should not be shy about using it or making a huge fuss when it’s ignored.

And it is this minority of people who simply do not want to understand, and perhaps the slightly lazy ones who do not feel they have the time to understand, Who need to be metaphorically beaten around the head with a copy of the equality act.

people worked really hard to make sure that disability was included in that act, to make sure that autism could be a valid excuse under law for all sorts of slights and social faux pas that autistic people might be punished for.

this legislation was intended to protect us and we should not be shy about using it or making a huge fuss when it’s ignored.

I mentioned this also as a gay man because I know from experience not only of police officers who are not only homophobic they are also ableist 

And importantly remembering that those standards apply differently to autistic people. That’s a very unpopular view but it is actually the way the law works as I understand it. You can’t apply a one size fits all approach to these things you have to take the specific differences in the way autistic people interact with the world into account.

It really does come down to those in positions of Athority maintaining acceptable standards of behaviour and properly enforcing those standards, making people take responsibility for their failure to reach those standards by thier behaviour and sanctions put in place, the severity of the punishments reflecting the gravity and seriousness of the offence committed 

Oh it's never condoned, by "authority" (AKA socially sanctioned bullying) in my experience, and does not make one popular (indeed, when I finally put down one bully (in my 30's I was socially shunned, but they clearly were not my friends anyway, so *** 'em).    

That particular bully however sure didn't come back for a bit more, and I bet the next time he thought of getting up in some little blokes grille he remembered what happened at my hands. 

The violence doesn't always have to be physical if you are resourceful. On person who liked to drink my drinks when I was in the army ended up drinking one I'd put 18 ex-lax into... 

I did hear of an incident where a few of the older kids offered a bully some "peer counselling" behind the wheelie bins. Apparently, the offer alone was sufficient to bring about the change in behaviour.

But generally, where the violence is condoned by someone in authority, it simply reinforces the bully's belief that might is right.

I Sperg said:

The ONLY thing that stops bullying is overwhelming levels of violence applied to the bully by the victim without any fair warning whatsoever.

And do it with no witnesses, and do not stop until they can't make any noise or or offer resistance any more.

Everything else is just messing about..

That was certainly my experience of physical bullying in school.

I once or twice completely lost it (I could kill when that happens) and was afterwards left alone.

The ONLY thing that stops bullying is overwhelming levels of violence applied to the bully by the victim without any fair warning whatsoever.

And do it with no witnesses, and do not stop until they can't make any noise or or offer resistance any more.

Everything else is just messing about..

We pay for shoplifting through increased prices and increased insurance premiums. If the police cracked down on the "minor" antisocial behaviour - graffiti, shoplifting, public nuisance etc. it would set the tone. In my previous work, I saw young offenders who received cautions and warnings and did not give a furry fig. They got supervision orders which were not enforced because there were not enough probation officers. One warning is enough.

It is the same with cyberbullying. I saw it at school, with kids being bullied by offensive texts. This is illegal, but instead of calling the police to actually deal with the perpetrators, the school arranged "counselling" for the victim, and the perpetrator got a free  "holiday" under the guise of a suspension. My solution would be for the cyberbullies to be taken to court, and if found guilty justice should include not just a fine, but having their expensive phone destroyed.

Ian said:

Apparently, the police will turn up mob-handed to arrest an autistic teenager in her own home, but they will not arrest shop-lifters. What is our society coming to?

insurance should cover the shops but civil unrest makes bad headlines so they focus on the stuff that is in their interest to control.

Apparently, the police will turn up mob-handed to arrest an autistic teenager in her own home, but they will not arrest shop-lifters. What is our society coming to?

No that was a Star Wars quote I was referencing light sabres. Light sabre's are cool

I haven't worked out all the details yet, but I've conceived of a device that hurls used or new 6 inch saw blades with left or right hand spin so that you can use richochets to your advantage in urban combat.

That sort of thing, or are you waiting for someone to invent an interferometry type of device that provides molecular de-cohesion at a distance? A-La Dr Judy Woods (Most likely ficticious but based loosely upon some obscure experiments that were actually done by a Guy by the name of John Hutchison, who was taught the basics by Mel Winfield) claims about the twin towers?

Or are you a more "Silent weapons for quiet wars" (pdf) kinda guy?

lol I'd rather have “An Elegant Weapon for a More Civilised Age” myself.

I'd still rather be allowed to carry an MP5 about my person I feel, on THOSE days.

(Editted after replies were made to put the comma where it should be)