THE
FATHER of an autistic boy last week expressed anger at the Metropolitan Police
when the force decided to appeal against a Court ruling awarding the boy
compensation for an assault by police officers at a swimming pool.
The child, known only as ZH, has severe
epilepsy and autism. He was on a school trip to Acton baths in west London and
became fixated by the water and stood at the poolside staring into it for
around half an hour.
His carers told swimming pool staff that his
behaviour was consistent with his condition and that he had to be given time to
move away of his own accord. But the manager called the police.
When
they tried to take hold him, ZH jumped into the pool. The water was chest high;
he was not in danger but he was terrified of any stranger trying to get hold of
him.
As police tried to drag him out forcibly the
boy struggled and was restrained with handcuffs and leg irons, then put in a
cage
Central
London County Court heard that the experience exacerbated ZH's epilepsy and he
was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
In
a significant ruling against the Met, the judge Sir Robert Nelson found the
force had subjected ZH to inhuman or degrading treatment and to unlawful
discrimination because of his disability. He awarded the boy almost £30,000 in
damages.
Now the Met is to appeal against this ruling,
saying it will affect their operational effectiveness.
ZH's father said: "The thousands of
pounds of public money spent by [Metropolitan Police] Commissioner Hogan-Howe
defending the indefensible would be much better spent requiring his officers to
treat people with disabilities humanely."
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