Campaign to raise autism awareness launches

A new campaign has been launched to raise awareness of autism among criminal justice professionals.

The new UK wide initiative was launched by The National Autistic Society (NAS) and the Co-Operative bank in Nottingham yesterday.

Entitled 'Keeping Safe' the campaign aims to equip young people affected by Asperger syndrome, a form of Autism, the skills to learn about the risks of crime, recognise dangerous situations and keep themselves safe.

'Keeping Safe' also offers guidance on how to recognise autistic behaviours and the best ways in which to deal with a suspected autism sufferer.

Alan Bicknell, NAS head of support programmes, said in a statement: "Autism affects one in a hundred people so it is likely that criminal justice professionals will meet people with the condition fairly regularly during their career."

There is a resource pack which will be distributed to police officers, and a more comprehensive guide to autism for criminal justice professionals it has been claimed.

PC Joe Scarth, a Merseyside policeman who has a seven-year-old autistic son and was speaking at the launch, told the Liverpool Echo, "As a police officer I became aware that if my colleagues came into contact with someone with the disorder, they may well not realise that someone has autism."


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