POLICE INVOLVEMENT WITH CLIENTS HAVING INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES - A PILOT-STUDY IN SOUTH LONDON

Following the increasing trend for de-institutionalisation of people w ith learning disabilities, community services are increasingly being u tilised to support those who also display challenging behaviours. Wher e severely challenging behaviours are involved community service provi ders may require additional support from the police service. The autho rs undertook a retrospective pilot study among two major community car e providers in South London, and looked at the reasons for calling the police, the frequency with which the police were called; staff expect ations in calling the police and the outcomes for the clients in terms of further involvement with the criminal justice system. The authors note that the police were generally used as additional support when cl ients became too difficult for the immediate service providers to mana ge. It is also noted that police action on behalf of victims was gener ally low and that the police were never called in response to clients with learning disabilities reporting having witnessed crime. The autho rs note that further research is required.