Being a dyslexic police officer in England and Wales: Identity, disability, and disclosure

This paper presents the research findings of a qualitative, in-depth interview study exploring the personal experiences and perceptions of a sample of 25 dyslexic police officers working in numerous police forces in England and Wales. Utilising the social model of disability, the present paper explores the impact of dyslexia on police officers when conducting different aspects of policing, including disclosure, recruitment, training, education, and well-being in the operational role. The findings highlight prevalent disabling attitudes, discriminatory behaviours, and a lack of reasonable adjustments within police services in England and Wales. The paper concludes with tentative suggestions for potential improvements and discusses future research directions.