A national ADHD Alliance for all emergency services is in the process of being set up by a group of Met officers.

Officers and staff across emergency services with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will soon have access to support via a national ADHD Alliance.

The initiative is being driven through by a group of Met officers who first established the Met’s version in February last year.

Currently, individuals can access ADHD-related support through the National Police Autism Association. There are also various support services set up by individuals in forces across the country.

This will however be the first joined up approach to supporting individuals and providing a unified voice for those with ADHD.

PC Carl Mumford, on the Met ADHD Alliance Committee, told Police Oracle: “ADHD and autism are different. Some symptoms overlap, but the way you treat them, the way that they present and the way you support those with them - they're different.

“There’s a void there and that’s what we’re trying to fill.”

The current Alliance already has a national reach, with forces nationwide invited to take part in bi-weekly meetings on a Thursday morning, while a drop-in session in December saw nearly 1,000 people attend.

The Alliance are additionally currently offering forces interactive informative presentations that they can deliver via Teams or in-person.

“People come on the call and the penny drops and they go wow, I realised what's going on now,” PC Mumford explained.

He himself was able to access support he needed after attending the Met Alliance’s first session last year.

He was originally with the Mounted Branch, but when an injury coincided with the start of lockdown he found himself struggling with ADHD traits.

"With one in four in prison having ADHD, and that's just those who are diagnosed, we have cops running around with ADHD, and we're chasing after people with ADHD. It's more prevalent than we think," he said. 

“If we can just keep people talking and raising that awareness, showing senior management how we can improve, showing our staff that there is that support available, we can change their lives. If we understand the impact of ADHD on criminal justice, we can reduce crime."

Co-Chair/Founder of the Alliance, A/DS Daley Jones told Police Oracle: “Since setting up the ADHD Alliance in February 22, it has become apparent to us that there is little to no bespoke ADHD advice and support available, both for police but also other blue light services.

"Coupled with a lack of societal and organisational awareness of neurodiversity, we feel it is important to create a national support network spanning all emergency services.

"To date we have liaised with several charities, sharing their resources and time. We are working on getting charities and group to partner with us for the long term.”

You can register interest in the Alliance here.