A first-of-its-kind study has found disabled people are more likely to be stopped by police, have force used against them, and ultimately end up in the courts and justice system - even when they have done nothing wrong.
The findings come from research commissioned by the Police, and undertaken by Mana Pounamu Consulting, Ihi Research and the Donald Beasley Institute. It is part of a move by police to better understand how various communities view police and what their interactions are like.
For the disabled community, the evidence showed a lack of understanding by police to recognise disabilities, mistaking some disabilities for acts or threats of violence, and not believing or understanding a person with a disability. The research also found disabled people may struggle to get access to their medication or other support - such as a sign language interpreter - after being arrested.
Dr Brigit Mirfin-Veitch, the director of the Donald Beasley Institute and the research lead for this work speaks to Kathryn. She is also joined by Robbie Francis Watene from the Donald Beasley Institute, a disabled researcher, who worked on the ground to collect evidence for this study.
Photo: Supplied by Donald Beasley Institute
