The N8 PRP Policing Innovation Forum 2025

Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System

26 June 2025 | York

Full Programme

The ninth annual N8 PRP Policing Innovation Forum was held in York on 26 June, on the theme of Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System. 

Prof Geoff Pearson welcomed delegates

Delegates were welcomed by Professor Geoff Pearson (University of Manchester), N8 PRP Academic Director, and Dr Geoff Page (University of York), the Forum chair. Dr Page gave an overview of the programme, highlighting key themes of diversity, effective participation, engagement, and adaptations. He then introduced the keynote speaker of the Forum, ACC Matt Welsted.

The Value of Neurodiversity

ACC Matt Welsted (West Midlands Police) spoke in his role as NPCC Lead for Neurodiversity. ACC Welsted began with a note of optimism, underlining the potential and achievements of neurodiverse individuals, and emphasising the value that neurodiverse individuals bring to policing.

“In my experience, if you ‘see’ the person, their potential and support them, they will show you levels of outstanding commitment”.

– ACC Matt Welsted, NPCC Lead for Neurodiversity

Not Naughty, Stupid, or Bad

Sean James Campbell, Head of Policy, Communication and Impact at User Voice, presented their project ‘Not Naughty, Stupid, or Bad’. Interviews with 104 neurodiverse (diagnosed or self-diagnosed) inmates across 11 prisons found significant levels of early-life adversity, and emphasised that those with few or no resources of their own struggle to navigate the criminal justice system.

Effective Participation

Dr Alice Siberry presenting her work

Dr Tom Smith (University of Western England) introduced the panel session on the theme of Effective Participation. The panellists were

Dr Alison Jobe (Durham University), Dr John Taggert (Queen’s University Belfast), and Dr Alice Siberry, Specialist Criminal Justice Neurodiversity Consultant at Creased Puddle.

The panel presented their work on effective participation for neurodiverse victims, suspects, and the wider community, then discussed what changes they wanted to see. All agreed there had been significant changes in visibility and understanding. Suggested changes included all police stations having an in-house Criminal Justice Intermediary, the use of triage suites as standard, a realistic look at what neurodiversity education and training means for policing.

Research Poster Exhibition

Delegates were invited to view the NRiPN Research Poster Exhibition, showing 5 posters. The prize for the best poster went to Darhyl Lewis and the team from Making Space for A Toolkit to Support Neurodivergent Individuals Navigating the Criminal Justice System. Darhyl won of 3 books from the Routledge criminal justice list.

Roundtables

Uzma Saleem, NRiPN poster exhibitor

Delegates joined one of four roundtables to discuss innovative practice and new research, considering how they could apply this learning in their own practice and what questions it raised for future collaboration.

There were sessions on Youth Justice, facilitated by Dr Anne-Marie Day (Manchester Metropolitan University), The Custody Toolkit, facilitated by Chloe Holloway-George (Nottingham University), Supporting Neurodivergent Staff, jointly led by Jake Harrison, (South Yorkshire Police) and Jack Fitzpatrick (LJMU), and The Custody Screening Pilot, led by Leesa Edwards and Peter Aiston (Cumbria Constabulary).

Wrap Up

Dr Geoff Page thanked the delegates for their contributions to the day. He reflected on the value of a practitioner-led event, focused on the practical steps needed to improve the experience of neurodiverse people in the criminal justice system.

Follow Up

“I came away feeling positive about the future.”

– Respondent to event evaluation survey

Feedback on the event was very positive, with delegates remarking that they found the content and speakers very interesting and informative, and valued the amount of discussion included in the programme. Delegates also shared they would be following up with other attendees and planned to read further on the ideas and research discussed.