Speak Out Peterborough members question Police Commissioner on policing

Police and Crime Commissioner, Darryl Preston met members of Peterborough’s Speak Out group last week to listen to their concerns about policing. 

  

Speak Out Peterborough acts as a voice for people with a learning disability and autistic people aged 14 and above.  

  

The Commissioner was keen to understand how autistic people and people with learning disabilities access the police service as part of his extensive consultation into a new Police and Crime Plan for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  

  

At the meeting, VoiceAbility's paid Speak Out leaders, volunteers and residents with their own lived experiences were supported and encouraged to think about feelings of safety and whether they were confident to call the police. 

  

Darryl said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner, the most important part of my job is to listen to the voice of local people. As I produce a new Police and Crime Plan for the county, I want to ensure the priorities included respond to local need.  

  

“Meeting members of Speak Out Peterborough was a great opportunity to understand how autistic people and people with learning disabilities feel about the police, what they need to be able to confidently ask for help them when they need it, and how important it is that the service adapts to their circumstances. 

  

“While work has been put in place by Cambridgeshire Constabulary to ensure officers receive appropriate training when dealing with autistic people and people with learning disabilities, I will be feeding these concerns to the Chief Constable.” 

  

Speak Out Peterborough spoke confidently about their experiences and emphasised the importance of clear communication and understanding of disability. The group shared positive experiences with the police, such as assistance in finding a missing family member.  

  

One member said: “I haven’t had much to do with the police, but I do like to see them out on the street. I feel safer because I know I have someone to go and talk to if something goes wrong and I need help.” 

  

Those attending asked a number of important questions including whether the police were the appropriate body to carry out welfare checks.  

  

“People with learning disabilities and autistic people can find the presence of uniformed officers intimidating and distressing,” explained one member who asked if alternative arrangements could be made, while stressing the need for officers to be clearly identified. 

  

In response, the PCC said that progress had been made in ensuring appropriate support for people through Right Care Right Person.  

  

“While there will always be cases where the police need to be involved in responding to someone in mental health crisis (for example, where there is a real and immediate risk to life or serious harm, or where a crime or potential crime is involved),” Darryl explained, “Right Care Right Person ensures the right person with the right skills, training and experience will respond.” 

  

A professional working within a community group highlighted the impact of police presence at community meetings: “Police presence at meetings for parents and people with learning disabilities and/or autism may make people feel uncomfortable and as though they are being 'watched'. It may put people off coming along for support.” 

 
Concerns were also raised about stop-and-search procedures and the use of blue lights in public areas. Darryl explained that volunteers now spend time watching body worn video footage through the county’s independent Community Scrutiny Panel to ensure Stop and Search procedures are being carried out correctly, and to provide any learning to officers where appropriate. 

  

There were also discussions about safety concerns in public places. These can be reported anonymously to StreetSafe via the police.uk website. 

 

For more information about Speak Out Peterborough, or to get involved, visit voiceability.org/speak-out-peterborough. 

 

The Police and Crime Plan for 2025-2028 will be published shortly.