§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned regarding numbers of(a) arrests, (b) charges and (c) convictions of persons who are autistic or suffer from Asperger's Syndrome; and what guidelines he has issued to police forces regarding the questioning of autistic suspects. [186816]
§ Ms BlearsNo research of this kind has been commissioned by my Department and the data collected on arrests, prosecutions and convictions do not distinguish persons with particular disabilities.
No specific guidance has been issued by the Home Office relating to persons with autism or Asperger's Syndrome. However, there are currently strands of work focused on improving police practice in relation to mentally ill individuals. These are outlined in the reply to the hon. Member's question on provisions in place to increase awareness in the Criminal Justice System of the behaviour patterns of people with communication related difficulties.