Research by Cambridge University and Met calls for better neurodivergence screening for vulnerable people
Half of people arrested recently in London were found to potentially have undiagnosed ADHD, according to a study calling for better neurodivergence screening for vulnerable individuals.
Research by the University of Cambridge found that one in two individuals arrested and detained over an eight-week period in London in 2024 may have undiagnosed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and one in 20 may have undiagnosed autism.
The team worked with the Metropolitan police to explore the idea of offering informal screening for neurodivergence to people detained by the police, which they said could improve access to support and help them receive fairer treatment in the criminal justice system.
Prof Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, the director of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) at Cambridge, who was involved in the research, said: “Screening for possible neurodivergence will allow more informed legal decision-making, taking into account cognitive and communicative differences. It can also help ensure defendants get access to legal protection and appropriate counsel.
