Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training her Department provides to police officers to improve awareness of autism.

It is the responsibility of individual police forces, through Chief Constables, to ensure officers and police staff receive appropriate training and that they have regard to the appropriate Authorised Professional Practice when discharging their responsibilities.

The College of Policing remain responsible for providing those working in policing with the skills and knowledge necessary to undertake their role, and set the standards for training and professional development for police forces in England and Wales.

They continue to review training packages to enable police officers to help vulnerable people effectively, including those with mental health problems, such as training on the law – including duties under equalities and human rights legislation – and on the roles and responsibilities of the relevant agencies. Training is integrated throughout the initial police learning programme which all new recruits – police constables, special constables and PCSOs – must complete.