The importance of screening for speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in police custody
| Published date | 01 September 2023 |
| Author | Clare Holland,Patrick Hutchinson,Donna Peacock |
| Date | 01 September 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12514 |
Received: 12 October 2021 Accepted: 4 August 2022
DOI: 10.1111/ho jo.12514
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The importance of screening for speech,
language and communication needs (SLCN) in
police custody
Clare Holland1Patrick Hutchinson2Donna Peacock3
1Clare Holland is Advanced Speech and
Language Therapist, Criminal Justice
Liaison and Diversion Service, Cumbria,
Northumberland, Tyne and WearNHS
Foundation Trust
2Patrick Hutchinson is Senior Lecturer in
Social Sciences, University of Sunderland
3Donna Peacock is Principal Lecturer in
Social Studies, University of Sunderland
Correspondence
Patrick Hutchinson, Senior Lecturer in
Social Sciences, University of Sunderland.
Email:
patrick.hutchinson@sunderland.ac.uk
Abstract
People who have speech, language and communication
needs (SLCN) are more prevalent in criminal justice set-
tings than in the wider population. Previous research
focusing primarily on young people and the prison
population has led to calls for early interventions and
screening, particularly in youth justice settings. NHS
Liaison and Diversion (L&D) referrals in a single police
force region in England were screened for SLCN over a
period of three months. The results indicate a need for
early identification of SLCN for all age groups, and for
those with no previous SLCN-related diagnoses.
KEYWORDS
police custody, screening, speech, language and communication
needs (SLCN)
1 INTRODUCTION
The police custody setting is one of the most challenging environments a person can experi-
ence in terms of communication requirements (Holloway et al., 2020). The suspect is required
to respond to complex questions (Herrington & Roberts, 2012) with potentially unfamiliar vocab-
ulary (Sowerbutts et al., 2021) and rapid topic changes, while remembering and articulating an
experience in sequence, against a milieu of heightened emotions (Skinns & Wooff, 2021). Unsup-
ported speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) represent a significant barrier in this
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and
reproduction in any medium, providedthe original work is properly cited.
© 2023 The Authors. The Howard Journalof Crime and Justice published by Howard League and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Howard J. Crim. Justice. 2023;62:295–312. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/hojo 295
296 THE HOWARDJOURNAL OF CRIME AND JUSTICE
context where engagement is heavily reliant on effective comprehension and communication
(Eastbrook & Snook, 2012; MacRae & Clarke, 2021).
SLCN have been described as a ‘hidden’ disability; with difficulties such as poor understand-
ing and use of expressive language are often not noticeable to non-experts (Neave-DiToro, Fuse &
Bergen, 2019). The social model of disability identifies societal and environmental barriers which
are disabling for people with impairments (Oliver,1996). Prior research has identified that there is
a range of disabling barriers in the criminal justice system. Research which links disability theory
and criminology has predominantly focused on victims of crime (see, e.g., Macdonald, Donovan
& Clayton, 2017; Mathews, 2018; McCarthy, 2017; Pearson, Rees & Forster, 2022). Research into
the experiences of suspects or offenders has been conducted, but is less extensive (see, e.g., Bar-
nett, 1986; Browning & Caulfield, 2011; Gormley & Watson, 2021; Hollomotz & Schmitz, 2018;
Parsons & Sherwood, 2016; Rogers, 2020). The available researchsuggests that disabled perpetra-
tors are over-represented in criminal justice (Hyun, Hahn & McConnell, 2014; Richards& Ellem,
2019; Thorneycroft & Asquith, 2021) and that significant barriers exist for people with mental
health conditions, specific learning difficulties or learning disabilities (Bone, 1998;Browning&
Caulfield, 2011; Macdonald, 2012;Talbot,2008) and that they are significantly disadvantaged as a
result (Gormley & Watson, 2021).
SLCN identification is vital in order to ensure access to fair justice outcomes (Nolan, 2018).
A suspect’s ability to fluently put forward their understanding of a specific situation is not only
a central tenet of social and criminal justice (Grubb & Hemby, 2018) but is also essential in the
collection of reliable evidence (Farrugia & Gabbert, 2020; Gudjonsson, 2003,2018). The inability
of a suspect with SLCN to fully comprehend the seriousness of the situation and the proceedings
to which they are subject is likely to impede their full and meaningful participation at each stage
of the legal process (Clarke, Barrow & Hartley, 2012; Nolan, 2018).
While some conditions can have a recognised SLCN component (such as autistic spectrum con-
ditions, aphasia, traumatic brain injury), this research identifies that well over half of the people
who have gone on to make use of the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service within this
police custody setting did not have a primary diagnosis of a condition which would signify SLCN.
This study highlights the ‘invisible’ nature of communication impairment to both the individual
and those around them. While this study is based within England, SLCN will be present within
any language and should therefore be of international interest.
At present there is little or no screening for SLCN embedded within standard police custody
training, and book-in procedures may not readily identify SLCN indicators for suspects (Gulati
et al., 2020; Macrae & Clarke, 2021). Where screening does occur there is limited SLT provision
within Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services to support those who are identified.1Given that
interventions and support are more likely to be put in place for people with specific diagnoses
or known conditions within this setting, the findings indicate that the SLCN of many of the peo-
ple who encounter the police will go unrecognised. We contend that there is a significant need
for SLCN screening and SLT intervention across all ages – particularly at the early stage of con-
tact with the justice system. This additional screening would mean that SLCN are identified at
the point at which a suspect first encounters the criminal justice system which could significantly
reduce reoffending risk by enabling individuals to access support and interventions. Barriers to
understanding and engagement could be reduced, leading to better outcomes for suspects and for
victims.
This article will begin by defining SLCN and the associated risks for suspects, and the current
support available to mitigate these risks. Screening data are presented which indicate the level of
previously unidentified and unsupported SLCN. These findings are considered in relation towhat
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