Half of people recently arrested by Met police may have undiagnosed ADHD, study finds

The study took place at police custody centres, where people who had been detained were offered voluntary screening for ADHD and autism carried out by a healthcare professional or detention officer. Photograph: Radharc Images/Alamy

Half of people arrested recently in London were found to potentially have undiagnosed ADHD, according to a study calling for better neurodivergence screening for vulnerable individuals.

Research by the University of Cambridge found that one in two individuals arrested and detained over an eight-week period in London in 2024 may have undiagnosed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and one in 20 may have undiagnosed autism.