Mencap Liverpool train the Police
On Friday 20th March, Hailey Wood and Sarah Jones from Mencap Liverpool along with some of our members delivered Learning Disability Awareness Training to over a 100 Merseyside Police officers.
This was a key event in the police calendar and as the majority of the staff attending were front-line services. These are the people that will come into contact with the general public and it is important the they are aware of the needs of people with a learning disability and how they can communicate so that the person can be understood.
Jane Kennedy Merseyside’s Police Commissioner said: “Vulnerable members of our community deserve the best possible support and care and we can only achieve this if we ensure we are communicating with people effectively.
This event is designed to raise awareness among frontline first responders within the police and our partner agencies about how they can improve the care they give by communicating with people with learning disabilities in the right way. By doing this from the first moment of contact we can ensure vulnerable people are better supported and increase the chance of successfully prosecuting the individuals who have brought them misery.
We know we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg with learning disability hate crime. It is a sad fact that about nine out of 10 people with learning disabilities will suffer harassment, abuse or hatred. Despite that, we know that about 97% of these incidents are never reported.
Through this seminar I hope we can improve understanding and awareness and ensure those who are out on the frontline are better trained to respond effectively when an individual needs a greater level of care. Crucially, this should also give people with learning disabilities the confidence to come forward, report the incidents they suffer and get help”
Mencap Liverpool Chief Executive Sarah Jones said: “It’s important to recognise that people who have a learning disability are more likely to experience all forms of crime. They are more vulnerable before, during and after a crime has occurred.
If professionals have a greater awareness of learning disability, these vulnerable victims receive more appropriate support, leading to improved reporting, successful prosecutions and most importantly, better outcomes for the victim.”