The family of a teenage girl with autism said she was left traumatized after being removed from a shop by police officers.
Katie Mitchell, 19, is non-verbal and has severe autism.
Elaine Mitchell said her sister tried to buy a DVD that cost £2 in a CeX store in Lisburn, but the tailgates had closed for the day.
Katie’s mother called the police in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, the family said.
“There was no understanding. There was no sympathy. There was no awareness from the police,” Dr Mitchell said.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a woman with complex needs was removed from the shop by a family member with the help of police. One officer was injured. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has been informed.
The BBC has contacted CEX for comment.
‘Put it on a leash’
Elaine Mitchell said her sister and their parents were Christmas shopping when Katie saw a Thomas the Tank Engine DVD. She was unable to buy it because the store had just closed its tailgate.
“She couldn’t understand what was going on and my mum begged her if she could pay £2,” Miss Mitchell said.
“Mum even offered to come back the next day with the DVD to see if she could take a picture of the DVD so she would have the barcode,” she added.
Miss Mitchell said her mother tried to explain that Katie had learning difficulties but staff “became quite abusive to my parents. They started abusing my sister.”
“She started crying” and “my sister was told to get the F out of the shop,” Miss Mitchell said.
“One of the staff members asked my mom if Katie had a leash, if my mom would put her on a leash to take her out of the store.”
‘Totally shocking’
Ms Mitchell said her mother “tried to calm Katie down”, adding: “She’s not an animal, she’s not a dog.”
He claimed there was also a “lack of understanding from staff”.
The girl’s mother decided to call the police but the family said what happened next was “absolutely shocking”.
“Five police officers came into the store, didn’t say anything at first… The staff explained the situation to the police officers that the store was closed and the door was locked as far as the police were concerned. Katie had to leave.”
‘Katie is visibly upset’
Katie is a “vulnerable adult who was crying in the store at the time and had her hands over her ears,” according to her sister.
“The police said that Katie needed to leave the store and grabbed her, her arm was behind her back and my dad was afraid that because she was so young, she was so young, that they would grab her arm. will break.”
“My parents were really scared at this stage, so my dad, you’ll have seen in the video, where he’s holding him and the policeman is dragging him out of the store. Taking out.”
Ms Mitchell said her family felt “absolutely let down by the police service”.
“I felt the need to publish this story to try to ensure that this never happens again and to ensure that the police service in Northern Ireland is trained and able to protect vulnerable people with disabilities. How to deal with.”
Carrie Boyd of Autism NI said she was “appalled” by the “lack of understanding and respect”.
He believes the situation “could have been resolved with a better understanding of autism”.
Carey added that training should be mandatory.
Kerry said she hoped to meet with the senior executive team at the PSNI to “ensure that situations like this never happen again”.
“It can’t go on. We’re close to 2025.”
Some local politicians have said they are in contact with the police and the family about the incident.
They include Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengley, who said on X: “Many people will be aware of a very disturbing incident recorded in Lisburn just before Christmas.
“Many people have contacted me, sending the clip and expressing serious concerns. Please be assured, we have contacted the PSNI in relation to this incident.”
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In a statement, Superintendent Kelly Moore said police were aware of video footage circulating on social media showing officers “taking a woman away from a store”.
“Police were called by the woman’s mother to assist in the Bow Street area of Lisburn at 6.15pm on Sunday, December 22. The shop was closing its shutters when a woman entered the premises.
“Officers attended and after speaking with the family and members of staff for approximately 20 minutes, a 19-year-old woman with complex needs was removed from the store by a family member, assisted by police.
“These have been very difficult and complicated circumstances for everyone and I have spoken to the family today to discuss their concerns.
“As an organization we are committed to continuous learning and any feedback will be evaluated and taken into consideration.”
He said the police ombudsman had been notified “not because there was any suspected crime or inappropriate behavior that would justify disciplinary action but because of public concern surrounding the release of a short video clip of a few seconds of the incident and Because of the media attention”. .