INCIDENCE OF PERSONS WITH A LEARNING-DISABILITY DETAINED IN POLICE CUSTODY - A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

The aim of this prospective study was to identify the number of people with a possible learning disability suspected of having committed a c riminal offence who were taken into police custody during a defined pe riod of time. Between 18 January 1993 and 18 March 1993 992 people wer e taken into custody at Parkside Police Station, Cambridge, of whom 25 1 (25.3%) were screened by the custody officer using a brief questionn aire to ascertain the presence or absence of reading and writing diffi culties and to see if they had received extra help at school of if the y had attended a special needs school. Information on age, sex, suspec ted offence, disposal, if a solicitor assisted and incidence of homele ssness was gathered from the custody reports. Eleven (4.4%) subjects s creened had attended schools for children with moderate learning diffi culties, while one (0.4%) suspect reported having attended a school fo r children with severe learning difficulties. A further 26 (10.4%) had attended schools for children with emotional or behavioural difficult ies or a learning support unit within a mainstream school. Those detai ned who had attended a special needs school for children with learning difficulties were all male. They had a mean age of 23.0 years (SD = 5 .0) compared to the mean age of all subjects of 26.5 years (SD = 11.6) . They were more likely to have been suspected of having committed acq uisitive offences than people who attended mainstream schools. In addi tion, they were more likely to be remanded in custody, or to be bailed , prior to appearing in court, in contrast with those from mainstream schools who were much more likely to be cautioned. Three (25%) of thos e who attended schools for children with learning difficulties had the assistance of a solicitor while in police detention. Two (16.7%) of t hose suspects who had attended a school for children with learning dif ficulties were homeless compared to 19 (8.0%) homeless suspects who ha d attended mainstream schools. These findings need to be considered wh en planning services for offenders. Existing or planned court diversio n schemes should consider suspects with learning disabilities as well as those with other mental disorders. Health, probation and social ser vices will be required if people with learning disabilities are to be diverted from the criminal justice system and the prison service shoul d consider how to support a potentially vulnerable group if they are d etained prior to trial or receive prison sentences.