Factors influencing police investigation of sexual crimes committed against people who have a learning disability and the implications for public policy

Abstract

This study examines the proposition that police investigations of sexual crimes committed against adults with a learning disability, are effected by factors such as prejudicial attitudes, which in turn influence outcomes within the criminal justice system. The effects of training on attitudes was evaluated by pre and post testing using the 'Attitude to Mental Retardation and Eugenics Scale', of police officers exposed to a training event on the subject of learning disability. Participation in the training was discovered to be associated with significant improvements in police attitudes.

Police attitudes to learning disability were investigated and compared to those of social workers and care staff, using the 'Investigative Appraisal Scale'. This scale manipulated the label 'learning disability' using a vignette. Police officers were drawn from several national and one international force. Police officers in the sample were associated with a more favourable predisposition to investigate a sexual assault case involving a victim with a learning disability than the social work/care staff group. However, the police cohort was associated with less favourable attitudes to learning disability and the non-application of negative eugenics to this client group.

A postal survey was used to collect information on existing policy in this area of police investigation. The results contributed to an emergent policy framework for con-joint working between social and services and police, used in consultation with agencies involved in this area and a focus group for service users.

This study gives a unique insight into attitudes to learning disability and the investigation of sexual crimes against people with a learning disability, of police officers and others professions involved in the lives of this group of vulnerable adults. The findings have highlighted the paucity of policies in this area and addressed this with a comprehensive, nationally applicable, proposal document for best practice.

Date of Award	Apr 2001
Original language	English
Supervisor	Roy McConkey (Supervisor)