A mum has slammed her son’s school after the 12-year-old, who has autism, was handcuffed by police during his first day back.
Sharron Faiq said school staff called police after Rayan, 12, pushed a dinner lady (school cafeteria worker) who, it is claimed, insisted he change his trainers even though he was allowed to wear them, The Sun reports.
The mum was called to collect her son from Dukeries Academy, Nottinghamshire in the UK after the incident.
When she arrived she was shocked to see Rayan being “pinned down in handcuffs on a table” by a police officer, according to theMirror.
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The 51-year-old NHS worker said her son was “being treated like a criminal”.
Ms Faiq filmed the incident, which has seen viewed more than 900,000 times on Facebook.
The distressing clip allegedly shows a staff member holding Rayan by his ankles while an officer puts him into an armlock.
“I couldn’t believe it. Rayan’s only small,” Ms Faiq said. Rayan is 152cm tall.
The mum explained the school was aware he had the wrong shoes and had said it was fine.
“I told the school I was getting a pair. They said trainers were OK for now.”
Despite wearing everything but the right shoes, one dinner lady allegedly told Rayan to change.
“She didn’t know he had special needs – but the school managers would know,” Ms Faiq said.
“They overreacted and manhandled him before calling police. I still can’t believe this could have happened to him on his first day.”
Ms Faiq is now taking legal action after the school suspended Rayan and removed him from its roll.
She sent the principal a list of questions regarding the incident but said she hasn’t yet received a response.
Police called ‘far too often’
Rayan has been out of classrooms since primary school due to issues around support funding and can’t receive regular schooling due to his autism.
Insp Charlotte Allardice of Notts Police said: “We understand incidents like these are emotive when viewed on social media, but this does not always tell all of the circumstances.
“In situations like this we do all we can to defuse an incident to protect the public including other pupils, the individual themselves and the attending officers.”
The Academy said it would not comment on matters involving individual pupils.
Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire county council said it was in touch with Ms Faiq and Rayan and are offering help.
Education lawyer Dan Rosenberg told the Mirror he thinks police are used “far too often” in schools which should be equipped to deal with such incidents.
Tim Nicholls, of the National Autistic Society, said: “In all but the most extreme circumstances, it is wrong for any child to be put in handcuffs.
“Restraint can be traumatic and dangerous. It’s vital this is properly investigated, including by the police.
“About one in 100 people are autistic. School staff and police should understand what that’s like.”
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
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