Disability Smart Accessible Built Environment Award

Case study

The Disability Smart Accessible Built Environment Award recognises organisations that have created accessible and inclusive physical environments for everyone, including disabled people.

Avon & Somerset Police created a unique custodial environment for people with sensory needs. The innovations introduced to their custody suite included including blue and green walls to promote calming and environmental stimuli, warm-up/cool-down dimmable lighting, TV feeds for messaging and a new supplier of blankets which were more sensory-friendly.

“[The improved custody suite has] had a massive impact on the people that come in. It has reduced assaults on officers, it’s reduced self-harming in the cells, and it’s also reduced the criminal damage to the cells as well, making [detainees] less anxious and distressed.” – Neil Whyman, Custody Sergeant

The Autism Cells Project was commissioned to make custody a less stressful experience for autistic detainees, in recognition of the fact that autistic individuals are 7 times more likely to come into contact with the police. Avon and Somerset Police run it with the support of both the University of Nottingham and the University of Bath.

In progressing the project, Avon and Somerset Police made changes to the physical custody environment such as warm up/cool down dimmable lightning, TV feeds with messaging, cells painted light blue and green, landscape visuals on the wallpaper and sensory-friendly blankets. They also provided autism training to all custody staff.

The project does not compromise on the demands of a custody suite. As an example, a wall remained white to enable the cameras to work correctly.

The project was developed with the help of a study group of autistic individuals, who came to visit the custody suite and provided feedback.

The project name has since changed to Vulnerable Person Custody Project as feedback showed it had benefitted other neurodiverse people, people with mental health conditions and neurotypical people.

Judges’ comments

“It is a brave and empathetic initiative to meet the needs of people with sensory needs in difficult circumstances. Avon & Somerset Police have created a unique environment for people in custody without compromising the essential elements of policing in custody suites.”

Finalists in this category

• GSK (Highly commended),
• Avon & Somerset Police,
• Lloyds Banking Group,
• Marsham Court Hotel.

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