Tanja Conway Grim discusses how policing can recognise autism Frontline Chat

Tanja first went missing in 1966 as a toddler and has had missing episodes throughout her life for a variety of reasons. In 2017 she was finally (re-)diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum.  She regularly presents workshops and training sessions on autism, neurodiversity, suicide prevention, missing people, co-production (and any combination thereof). Tanja has also worked to help runaway children at an international railway station to re-establish contact with their family or carers.  She has undertaken several degrees as a mature student; the latest one an MRes in Forensic Investigation with Cranfield University Defence and Security, looking at search techniques for ‘no-body’ homicides. She now works for the NHS and other organisations, specialising in autism training, suicide prevention, equality & diversity, quality & safety reviews, domestic abuse, co-production, and complaints scrutiny.  Passionate about missing people and those left behind, she continues to volunteer for a number of relevant charities and the police in a variety of roles. Tanja brings both the personal perspective of a missing person, a carer for a missing person/at risk of going missing person, county lines missing young people, as well as practical and research experience in the field.