title: Incidence of persons with a learning disability detained in police custody. A needs assessment for service development.
abstract: The aim of this prospective study was to identify the number of people with a possible learning disability suspected of having committed a criminal offence who were taken into police custody during a defined period of time. Between 18 January 1993 and 18 March 1993 992 people were taken into custody at Parkside Police Station, Cambridge, of whom 251 (25.3%) were screened by the custody officer using a brief questionnaire to ascertain the presence or absence of reading and writing difficulties and to see if they had received extra help at school or if they had attended a special needs school. Information on age, sex, suspected offence, disposal, if a solicitor assisted and incidence of homelessness was gathered from the custody reports.
authors.affiliation: Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Ida Darwin Hospital, Fulbourn, Cambridge.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lyall
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Styles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities; D008297:Male; D016495:Police; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom