We are proud to share that our neurodiversity custody training has been formally evaluated and published in Policing: An International Journal (Emerald Publishing).
The paper, titled “Breaking down the barriers”: evaluating practitioners’ training and practice with neurodivergent people in police custody, was authored by Ralph Bagnall, Matilda Leung and Katie Maras at the University of Bath. It draws on data from 99 custody practitioners in the South West of England who attended our one-day neurodiversity training sessions.
What the research examined
The study set out to answer two questions. First, what impact does neurodiversity training have on custody practitioners’ knowledge and confidence when working with neurodivergent people? Second, what factors do practitioners themselves see as shaping that work?
To answer them, researchers collected self-report survey data immediately before and after the training, and again at a six-month follow-up. Qualitative responses were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
What the findings show
The results are clear and consistent.
Before the training, over half of participants (51.5%) had no personal experience of neurodiversity – yet the majority (78.8%) were encountering neurodivergent people in custody on a daily or weekly basis. Self-reported neurodiversity knowledge was low, and satisfaction in working with neurodivergent detainees was moderate at best.
Following the training, self-reported knowledge increased significantly, with a mean score rising from 38.6% to 77.1% – a gain of nearly 39 percentage points. Confidence in working with neurodivergent people increased from 61.9% to 79.4%. Both changes were statistically significant with large effect sizes. Agreement with ten specific statements about neurodiversity knowledge and practice also increased significantly across the board.
At the six-month follow-up, 92.86% of respondents said they had considered aspects of the training during subsequent interactions with neurodivergent people. Satisfaction in working with neurodivergent detainees was higher at follow-up than it had been before training.
The training was rated at an average helpfulness of 83.8% immediately after delivery, and 80.1% six months later. 91.7% of participants said they would recommend it to others.
What practitioners told us
The qualitative findings gave us something equally important – an honest picture of what custody practitioners are navigating every day.
Three themes emerged from the analysis.
Neurodivergent people in custody have diverse needs. Practitioners were clear that no two neurodivergent detainees present alike. The custody environment itself can increase vulnerability and distress, and substance use or missing medication can add further complexity to an already demanding situation.
Identifying and responding to those needs is genuinely challenging. Without sufficient knowledge, practitioners described difficulty recognising neurodivergent presentations – particularly distinguishing them from intoxication or distress. Communication barriers and the fast pace of the custody environment made this harder still.
Both internal and external resources matter. Practitioners who had personal experience of neurodiversity reported higher knowledge levels before training, confirming that formal training is especially important for those without that lived context. But knowledge alone is not enough. Time, environment and systemic support all shape what is practically possible.
A framework for the future
The researchers propose a Resource-Demand Model for neurodivergent detainee engagement, drawing on the job demands-resources framework. It frames neurodiversity knowledge, skills and confidence as internal resources, and training, environmental adjustments and systemic support as external ones. When those resources are present, outcomes improve – for detainees and for practitioners.
This model aligns with what we have always argued: investing in neurodiversity knowledge in custody is not an optional extra. It is part of what makes custody safe, fair and effective.
Why this matters to us
This research used data from our training. It was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and evaluated independently by the University of Bath. The findings are peer-reviewed and published in a leading policing journal.
We are proud of what the evidence shows. We are equally proud of the practitioners who attended the training, engaged honestly with the research process, and continue to apply what they learned.
If you work in custody, or commission training for custody staff, we would be glad to talk about what this means for your team.
Bring this training to your force
We deliver specialist neurodiversity training for police custody staff across the UK. Our custody training is evidence-based, practitioner-focused, and delivered by people with direct experience of policing and neurodiversity.
Whether you are a custody sergeant looking to develop your practice, a force training lead exploring provision, or an inspector responsible for detainee welfare standards, we would love to have a conversation with you.
Find out more about our policing and criminal justice training or get in touch directly at [email protected].