Mother of Autistic Teen Describes Trauma After Police Strip-Search

A 16-year-old boy with autism was reportedly left “absolutely traumatised” after being first held down and then later strip-searched by police, according to his mother. This incident occurred after the boy, who also experiences learning difficulties, was taken into custody on suspicion of assaulting an officer from Cumbria Police. The Children’s Commissioner for England characterized the boy’s treatment as “shocking.” Cumbria Police stated that officers had restrained the boy “for his own safety,” but declined to comment on the allegations regarding the strip-search, citing an ongoing investigation into the events. The boy’s mother, whose identity is being withheld to safeguard her son’s privacy, reported that he suffers from mental health issues and was experiencing an “emotional crisis.” She recounted contacting the police in September when her son started walking the 30-mile route home from school, distressed and on the road, and she was unable to convince him to enter her vehicle. “He was so angry and so heightened, we didn’t know what to do, so we called the police,” she stated. She added, “I don’t feel like they dealt with him very well.” She explained that she had informed the emergency operator about her son’s specific needs and emotional condition, but upon the arrival of police, an officer “grabbed” her son, who then “reacted really badly.” “There was no de-escalation,” she commented. She continued, “They both ended up on the floor and he ended up kicking her in the face.” The boy was subsequently arrested and transported to Kendal police station, where his mother reported he underwent a strip-search for drugs, reportedly due to him “standing funny and fidgeting.” She asserted that this behavior was characteristic of his autism and not indicative of anything suspicious, describing the experience as “devastating.” Tim Nicholls, director of the National Autistic Society, remarked: “What seems to have happened here is things seem to have really escalated when they really didn’t need to.” He added, “A little bit of autism training could have gone a long way in this case and stopped what is actually a really invasive and intrusive procedure.” The organization advocates for compulsory autism training for police officers. Cumbria Police stated that its officers had “attempted to safeguard the boy.” A spokesperson for the force explained, “An officer then attempted to restrain him for his own safety and the safety of other road users.” The officer involved sustained cuts, bruises, and broken glasses, and the boy was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. The force indicated that its professional standards department was examining how personnel could gain insights from the incident. Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, commented: “This is a shocking example of a child being humiliated and traumatised by adults in positions of power.” Data collected by her office revealed that from 2018 to mid-2023, police carried out over 3,300 strip-searches involving children. She stated that these procedures were frequently “unnecessary, unsafe and under-reported,” necessitating alterations to police practices. The Home Office described strip-searching as “one of the most intrusive powers available to the police.” A spokesperson indicated that its application should be “fair, proportionate and carried out with full regard for the dignity of the person being searched, especially children.” “Whilst there have been improvements, it is clear standards are not always being followed as they should,” the spokesperson added. The government has pledged in its manifesto to implement new safeguards concerning the strip-searching of children and young people.