Western Reader
In a shocking incident that sparked widespread controversy, West Yorkshire Police in the United Kingdom arrested a teenage girl on suspicion of a homophobic public order offense.
The arrest was made after the girl, who is autistic, allegedly made comments that were interpreted as homophobic by the police officers present.
The incident began when the police were contacted by a relative of the girl, who reported that she was intoxicated at a nearby shopping hub. The police responded to the call and brought the girl back home.
However, upon their arrival, the situation took an unexpected turn. The girl made comments that were perceived as homophobic by the officers, leading to her arrest. The entire incident was captured on body-worn video, according to the police.
Soon to be the most hated cop in the UK.
She had a disabled autistic girl violently assaulted and arrested after the girl said the cop looked like her Lesbian nanna.
A literal swat team of cops turned up to arrest the child.
Hate crime laws caused this. pic.twitter.com/vbkKoHsbCB
— ✝️Nikos🟠 (@CyprusNik) August 9, 2023
The girl’s mother, however, vehemently denies the accusations of homophobia. She insists her daughter merely remarked one of the officers resembled her grandmother, who happens to be a lesbian. The mother alleges the officer misinterpreted the comment, leading to the unfortunate arrest.
The mother’s account paints a disturbing picture of the incident. She claims the officers continued to manhandle her daughter despite her having panic attacks from being touched. She also alleges that one of the officers assaulted her when they entered her home.
West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Oz Khan stated the force takes its responsibilities around the welfare of young people taken into custody and neurodiversity very seriously. He added while they are committed to keeping communities safe, their officers and staff should not have to face abuse. The incident is currently under review; police have urged the public to avoid reaching conclusions based solely on the social media video.
#westyorkshirepolice arrest an autistic child for saying officer looks like a lesbian. Latter an elderly man was arrested for saying the sky is blue and ducks like water. #PoliceUK #uk #Police #LGBT #yorkshire #WestYorkshire …l
— Kayzie Hayzie (@KayzieHayzie) August 11, 2023
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can often lead to misunderstandings with neurotypical individuals. People with ASD may have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention, and can face challenges with social skills, speech, and nonverbal communication. This incident raises questions about how well-equipped our law enforcement agencies are to interact with individuals with neurodiverse conditions.
The incident has been referred to the professional standards department of the police. The girl was released after being interviewed, pending further guidance from the local prosecution office.
This article appeared in The Record Daily and has been published here with permission.
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