Incidence of persons with a learning disability detained in police custody. A needs assessment for service development.

The aim of this prospective study was to identify the number of people with a possible learning disability suspected of having committed a criminal offence who were taken into police custody during a defined period of time. Between 18 January 1993 and 18 March 1993 992 people were taken into custody at Parkside Police Station, Cambridge, of whom 251 (25.3%) were screened by the custody officer using a brief questionnaire to ascertain the presence or absence of reading and writing difficulties and to see if they had received extra help at school or if they had attended a special needs school. Information on age, sex, suspected offence, disposal, if a solicitor assisted and incidence of homelessness was gathered from the custody reports.