Norwegian police officers’ preparations and accommodations when interviewing people with severe autism spectrum disorder: a vignette study

People with autism face an increased risk of becoming victims of crime. When a crime is reported, the investigative interview is a central part of the police investigation. However, for people with autism, the investigative interview can be demanding, and encounters with the police are often mixed experiences. This may lead to suboptimal information-gathering. Therefore, police officers need to know how to provide autism-friendly accommodations. In this study, the researcher used vignette-based focus group interviews to explore how eight Norwegian police officers prepare for investigative interviews with individuals with severe autism and which supports they provide during the interview. Through reflexive thematic analysis, two main themes were identified: the importance of teamwork, and support strategies to safeguard interviewees with autism. Despite the limitations of this small-scale study, its findings may inform researchers and practitioners about the challenges and possibilities of interviewing people with severe autism.