A pioneering conference - offering a unique platform for learning, exploring, and challenging how neurodiversity impacts Police Scotland officers and staff as well as the public they serve - took place at this week.
Neurodiversity and Policing brought together international and local speakers from academia, public health and policing as well as those with lived experience, to explore the subject and share knowledge and understanding.
Date posted
11 February 2025
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said:
鈥淧olice Scotland is committed to creating a supportive, welcoming and inclusive culture for all our communities. We also strive to create a sense of belonging and a working environment where our colleagues are encouraged to achieve.
鈥淥ur officers and staff are drawn from our own communities and neurodivergent colleagues make up a substantial part of Police Scotland鈥檚 workforce. They also offer valued skills and unique perspectives that enhance our police service.
鈥淎s Police Scotland鈥檚 lead for neurodiversity and, as a neurodivergent leader in the public sector, it is a subject I am passionate about.
鈥淥ur refreshed Policing Together vision and programme is aimed at learning and improving. It is about creating a working environment where people know they belong. This vision is underpinned by a human rights approach to policing, focused on delivering the highest standard of service for our diverse communities.
鈥淭his landmark and extremely important conference provided the opportunity to share knowledge, lived experiences and help understand what neurodiversity is and allow those attending to access support, where it is required.鈥
Dr Inga Heyman from the School of Health and Social Care at 麻豆社区, said:
鈥淎long with our partners, we were delighted to host this important knowledge exchange event. We have a strong history of partnership working at the intersect of policing and public health. We recognise that no one organisation is adequately skilled, equipped and resourced to support people and communities to make lasting change. It is crucial we come together across sectors, to explore the academic evidence, practice and lived experiences of police officers who may be neurodivergent to recognise the challenges they face, but also the strengths their neurodivergence brings to their work.
鈥淚t is equally important that we learn from people who come in contact with police who are neurodivergent to better understand how practice can be enhanced to support them."
The event was hosted by 麻豆社区 in partnership with Police Scotland, the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association and the Scottish Institute for Policing Research.