Discrimination finding for autistic police officer rejected from firearms training

Judgement of direct discrimination following decision by Deputy Chief Constable to block claimant’s application due to her neurodivergent conditions

A police officer was wrongly prevented from commencing firearms training because of her autism and dyslexia, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Lauren Crawford, an officer with Cumbria Constabulary, applied to become an Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) in 2019, having successfully qualified to carry a Taser. Despite being supported by the Force Medical Adviser, passing the pre-course assessments and receiving “overwhelming” positive feedback from her supervisor, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Webster blocked the officer from joining the AFO course.

The Tribunal heard that the DCC’s decision had been based on an outdated ‘personal profile’ document written when the officer was diagnosed at University some years previously. The DCC did not meet with PC Crawford or review her AFO application form prior to his decision. The officer attempted to submit a grievance but was advised that there was no route of appeal.

Julia Gargan, Associate at law firm Harbottle & Lewis, said: “The case is a reminder to employers that at all stages of the employment cycle, including during an application process, employees must be treated equally and that a decision regarding an employee should not be made based on assumptions about the potential impact of their disability.”

For further reading, click on the links for an article by People Management, and to download the Tribunal judgement (38 page PDF). ∎

Devon & Cornwall Police student officers join National Neurodiversity Youth Council

Two student officers from Devon & Cornwall Police have been selected to join the National Neurodiversity Youth Council, an initiative by the ADHD Foundation to include young people in neurodiversity advocacy.

PC Declan Thomas and PC Paige Donaldson have been selected to join the Council, and will be supported by PC John Holland, NPAA lead coordinator for Devon & Cornwall Police and a member of the Force Performance & Inclusion Team.

The National Neurodiversity Youth Council is a national visionary project, lead by young people aged 16 to 24. The appointment of PCs Thomas and Donaldson to the Council marks a new and innovative approach that aims to increase neurodiversity within the police workforce and encourage new conversations between the police service and neurodivergent communities.

Click on the link for the original news article on the Devon & Cornwall Police website. ∎

PCs Declan Thomas and Paige Donaldson at Bodmin Police Station

“I owe my career to dyslexic thinking”

West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Welsted believes he owes his successful career to his dyslexic thinking. He’s telling his story to inspire others that being neurodivergent (ND) doesn’t need to hold you back.

I always hated reading and found the process frustrating, but I didn’t get myself tested for dyslexia until I was nearly 43 years old.

I only got tested then when I finally hit an obstacle that my ways of working couldn’t overcome, but I’m so glad I did.

As a child I didn’t know I was dyslexic, but looking back it was obvious. I saw things differently from my peers, and I found reading and writing hateful and exhausting activities – I just didn’t know why.

ACC Matt Welsted

My education was a mixed bag. I did well in maths and science, all things physical and was confident at speaking and solving problems, but underachieved at English or anything based on reading or writing.

It affected my confidence because others seemed to find this easy, even enjoyable, and I didn’t – so of course, at times I doubted my intelligence and abilities.

I worried about my written work as this was the obvious ‘issue’ for people who criticised it over the years. I learned to hide this away from others or did a lot of redrafting to make sure it was right.

I’ve developed ways of working that help me deal with being dyslexic. These include:

  • I ask for reasonable adjustments for standardised tests – usually extra time and a private room
  • I listen to books and have an app that reads documents
  • I plan where I work so I don’t set myself up to fail – the downside is that I usually spend my working days speaking to people and doing my reading or writing away from others
  • I play to my strengths – I’ve built a career out of doing what I’m good at
  • I manage my focus to make sure I get done what’s important

People with dyslexia or other ND conditions have strengths that are often what policing needs. My innovation, positivity, passionate communication and ability to ‘see’ solutions that others can’t, have helped me serve the public for over 27 years and become a chief officer in England’s second-biggest police force.

It’s true that for dyslexic people to thrive in a police environment, the individual needs to get over some of the obvious challenges – such as statement taking, report writing, handwriting and spelling. Too many colleagues have been criticised or labelled ‘stupid’ because they’ve struggled with these activities.

In 2023, there’s no reason this should be the case. Most of the time, a little support, understanding and some simple adjustments that are free or cheaply available is all that’s needed.

I know how hard it is to face up to your challenges and ask for support, but it’s worth it. It gave me answers, insights and the ability to understand myself.

I believe that tolerating or even accepting difference is not enough: we should seek out difference for the value it adds. ∎

This blog was originally published on the West Midlands Police LinkedIn page as part of Dyslexia Awareness Week – it is reproduced here with kind permission of the author