The family of a teenage girl with autism is said to have been ‘deeply distressed’ following her removal by police from a CEX store in Lisburn just before Christmas.
A video showing officers removing 19-year-old Katie Mitchell from the shop went viral on Friday after her sister, Dr Eileen Mitchell, shared it online.
Dr Mitchell said that she decided to share the footage to show ‘how urgently we need greater awareness and understanding of autistic and vulnerable individuals’.
“Katie doesn’t speak and has the mindset of a young toddler,” she said in a post on Facebook, which has since been shared over 11,000 times.
Hi all, I've decided to share this video. Just b4 Christmas my autistic sister Katie (who doesn't speak and has the mindset of a toddler) went 2 buy a £2 dvd but the till had closed early and started crying in the shop. Police were called& forcibly removed her. #AutismAwareness pic.twitter.com/hOvpG9WLH5
— Dr Eileen Mitchell (@em093NI) December 27, 2024
“Just before Christmas, she went into a second-hand DVD store with my parents and spotted a Thomas the Tank Engine DVD she wanted from Santa. It cost just £2.
“However, when she went to the counter, the cashier informed them that the till had already been closed for the day.
“Katie didn’t understand this and became very upset, crying in the shop,” she added.
“My mum tried to explain the situation to the staff and pleaded with them to take the £2 and scan it the next day, as Katie didn’t comprehend why she couldn’t have the DVD.”
Following this, Dr Mitchell said the situation ‘escalated’ and staff at the store called police to have Katie removed.
She also claims one member of staff made an inappropriate comment referencing her sister.
Dr Mitchell said that when police arrived, they ‘forcibly removed’ Katie from the store, with her father attempting to intervene after ‘fearing she might be injured’.
“I came home to find my parents and Katie deeply distressed and in tears over the incident,” she said.
“Incidents like this shouldn’t happen. We need more compassion, better training for staff and authorities, and systems in place to protect those who can’t advocate for themselves.”
The post has generated thousands of reactions online from members of the public, politicians and advocacy groups.
NI Disability & Carers Group said they had ‘no words’ to describe the incident, while SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said the footage made for ‘extremely upsetting viewing’.
“It underlines the need for a much wider understanding of autism and training for people in public-facing jobs,” he added.
Local Sinn Fein Councillor Gary McCleave said that he had been in touch with the PSNI and Alliance MP for Lagan Valley Sorcha Eastwood said she had made contact with concerned parties.
“Please rest assured that we are supporting the family and will be following through,” she said.
Both CEX and the PSNI have been contacted for comment.
