A MOTHER and son from Newquay have been recognised for their work helping the police improve support for neurodivergent people.

Marie Hutchinson-Ralph and Malachi Tasker-Ralph have been awarded a Chief Superintendent’s Certificate following their contribution to policing and the community across Devon and Cornwall.

The duo have carried out bespoke training sessions, webinars and led local projects to help improve the force’s approach to communication, care and response to individuals who are neurodivergent over several years.

Marie, who is autistic, and 19-year-old Malachi, who has Tourette's Syndrome, autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder, have supported delivering inputs to the force around ‘thinking about people who think differently.’

They more recently led a ‘keep calm, it’s only Tourettes’ webinar for the College of Policing, which was attended by officers and police colleagues from around the UK.

Marie and Malachi were also advocates for the launch of the ‘Neurodiversity IDs’ (NDIDs) in 2025, which are green wristbands that can be worn by individuals who are neurodivergent.

The wristbands provide vital information about the person when scanned by emergency services so that responders on scene can give them the right help at the time.

Marie and Malachi received the accolade at an awards ceremony held at the St Austell Conference Centre on Wednesday, February 11.

Award winners Marie and Malachi said: "We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition from Devon & Cornwall Police.

"It means a great deal to us both, not only personally but for the wider neurodivergent community whose insights and experiences shape positive change.

"True progress happens when communities are listened to and worked with and when collaboration replaces assumption and learning is shared in every direction.

"We’re grateful to everyone within the force who has engaged with this work with such openness and care, and we look forward to continuing to build safer, more understanding, and inclusive communities together."

Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley, who presented the award, said: “Malachi and Marie’s inputs have given and continue to give us the knowledge we need to make sure our response and communication is appropriate from the very first moment we engage any member of the public.

“We know that we haven’t always got it right in the past, but we are continually striving to do better and be better so that we can progress and improve the service we provide to the neurodivergent community.”

PC John Holland, who has worked alongside the duo, added: “Our officers will of course attend emergencies and/or chat to people who are neurodivergent whilst out in the community.

“That’s why work like this is vital.

“Marie and Malachi provide a powerful insight through their lived experience to the force around policing, which forms part of the invaluable training they have supported in delivering to our officers and staff.

“Listening to the voices of everyone in our communities is essential. It means we can police our communities in the way they want to be policed, always putting the person at the centre of our response and building inclusive relationships.”

Following in his mother’s footsteps, Malachi also recently received the coveted British Citizen Award Medal of Honour for Services to Education (BCAe) following his work in raising awareness for Tourette’s and autism acceptance in the UK.

They are the only mother and son to receive the award.