Being known to my local police.

Steel Maiden · 15-06-2015, 10:14 PM

I often have meltdowns and challenging behaviour in public, even with my support worker, due to sensory overload and my visual processing disorder.

I recently came close to gathering police attention when I was banging my head against, and kicking, a fence, with great force. My support worker knows not to restrain me when I'm doing that, as it would make me attack him. He got me to go somewhere quieter where I sat down and rocked back and forth to calm myself down. There were police on the other side of the road but they didn't see me thankfully.

Had the police got involved I would have ended up in handcuffs.

Is there any way for me to get myself on police records saying that I'm autistic and how to deal with me? As in calm me down verbally, not physically.

I have a general fear of the police and I don't want that to worsen.

PoppyLove · 16-06-2015, 01:48 AM

I'm not entirely sure, but I'm sorry you're in such a tricky situation. I understand a fear of the police, but it seems especially bad nowadays, and especially over here in the US.

What does your support worker suggest?

My first thought was some kind of bracelet or other identifier to let them know. If you're in a small area, it could be something simple and the cops could just know to watch out for "the girl in the blue bracelet" or something like that. If you're in a larger area and there's a greater population to be concerned with, it may need to be more obvious.

Best of luck to you :)

Snow White. · 16-06-2015, 01:50 AM

I'm unsure. In these moments if you had a piece of card saying these things could you hand it over? Are you always with your support worker as they could do it?

Probably the best people to ask are the local police and your support staff, I'm sorry I don't know more.

And I'm sorry you're struggling right now too.

Steel Maiden · 16-06-2015, 09:28 AM

Thanks both. I'll look into the card. I think my local police might cover only a small zone so the bracelet is a good idea too.

Snow White. · 16-06-2015, 04:42 PM

I like how proactive you are with things Oly. Keep up the good work looking after yourself as best you can.

Foxtrot Oscar · 16-06-2015, 06:09 PM

Where I live the local charity for people with autistic spectrum disorders have formed a partnership with the police service and people who have an autistic spectrum disorder can have a card explaining their condition, what might be helpful and who to contact. It seems a really good scheme so I don't know if a similar scheme might exist where you are?

I was going to suggest contacting your safer neighbourhoods team (should be on your police service website) and having a point of contact there perhaps so you could explain your needs. Then if you were struggling in a situation and they were on shift they could come and help etc. It could then also be on the police computer so if officers were dealing with you they would know how best to help. The police now, certainly where I am, are very keen to be active in the community and I would be surprised if they weren't open to having a chat with you about how they can best support you in your community. I think if I remember rightly, you had a point of contact with a police officer at some point? Could you email him/her again initially?

Sorry Oly, I'm not explaining this well, but I hope it is helpful.

Steel Maiden · 16-06-2015, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snow White.

I like how proactive you are with things Oly. Keep up the good work looking after yourself as best you can.

Thanks. I will.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxtrot Oscar

Where I live the local charity for people with autistic spectrum disorders have formed a partnership with the police service and people who have an autistic spectrum disorder can have a card explaining their condition, what might be helpful and who to contact. It seems a really good scheme so I don't know if a similar scheme might exist where you are?

I was going to suggest contacting your safer neighbourhoods team (should be on your police service website) and having a point of contact there perhaps so you could explain your needs. Then if you were struggling in a situation and they were on shift they could come and help etc. It could then also be on the police computer so if officers were dealing with you they would know how best to help. The police now, certainly where I am, are very keen to be active in the community and I would be surprised if they weren't open to having a chat with you about how they can best support you in your community. I think if I remember rightly, you had a point of contact with a police officer at some point? Could you email him/her again initially?

Sorry Oly, I'm not explaining this well, but I hope it is helpful.

That is helpful. The police officer I knew moved out of London to go and work somewhere else, so I don't know her now.

I will ask my support worker to help me contact my loacal safer neighbourhoods scheme.

I have an Autism Alert card, but last time I got into problems with the police, they totally disregarded it. Nobody seems to look at it (even though it is in my bag at all times), not even A&E staff or staff on the psych ward. Well, one person looked at it: customs in Heathrow Airport after I freaked out when they wanted to search me after the metal detector went off.