Volunteer scheme helps to provide support to neurodivergent officers and staff

Hertfordshire Constabulary have recruited almost 30 Neurodiversity Champions to help support neurodivergent colleagues across the Force. Volunteers have been briefed for the role provided by the Constabulary’s neurodiversity team.

While these champions cannot diagnose conditions such as autism and ADHD, they can provide a listening ear and signpost to resources and further support. Many of them have lived experience and are available to speak to anyone who needs advice or support about neurodiversity.

Strategic lead for disability, Detective Chief Inspector Craig Flint said: “There has been a lot of work taking place to get to this point and I would like to thank those who have been busy behind the scenes to bring this to fruition.

“I would also like to thank those from across the organisation who have volunteered for the role of Neurodiversity Champion, which is a responsibility on top of their day jobs in policing.

“This is a big step forward in our work to support those with neurodivergent conditions within our workforce and also those with neurodivergent family members.

“The work of champions may include helping a supervisor to support a team member with a neurodivergent condition, talking a colleague through the process of obtaining a dyslexia assessment and/or workplace adjustments as well as giving guidance to those who may have family members with neurodivergent conditions.”

Hertfordshire Constabulary, along with local policing partners Bedfordshire Police and Cambridgeshire Constabulary, have achieved Disability Confident Leader status – the highest level of accreditation that can be achieved under the Disability Confident scheme.

Click on the link for a news article on the Hertfordshire Constabulary website. ∎

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). ∎

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. ∎