Probe into handling of Asperger’s arrest

Probe into handling of Asperger’s arrest West Midlands police are
investigating their treatment of an 18-year-old man with Asperger’s
who was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon,
after a complaint by his mother.

The force’s professional standards department is carrying out the
work under Independent Police Complaints Commission direction.

The man was arrested in July on suspicion of causing criminal
damage at his home address and taken to Stourbridge police station,
where he was detained for more than six hours before being released
without charge. The following day he was arrested on suspicion of
possessing an offensive weapon. He was still wearing the white
paper suit he had been released in a day earlier.

He was later taken to Bushey Fields Hospital after being admitted
under section two of the Mental Health Act 1983.

The IPCC commissioner for the West Midlands, John Crawley, said:
“Individuals with specific communication needs can be misunderstood
by police and other professionals and for the police there are
specific safeguards for handling the needs of such vulnerable
individuals.”