Police sorry for disabled blunder - News - Evening Standard
       

Police sorry for disabled blunder

A police force has apologised for a lack of "professionalism" after a disabled child was detained under the Terrorism Act.

Julie Maynard, her husband Leslie Coombs and her son Joshua were travelling to Calais through the Channel Tunnel when they were stopped by a plain-clothed officer.

The female officer accused Ms Maynard, of Ware, Hertfordshire, of "child trafficking" when she saw Joshua, who is mixed race and suffers from autism and cerebral palsy. Ms Maynard said the officer added: "It's obvious [Joshua] has nothing to do with you". They were released after two hours.

Kent Police have now "transferred" the officer, paid a "substantial sum" to the welfare fund at Joshua's school.

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