Opinion: Hot Issue - Do police officers target young people withoutgood reason?

NO - Pauline Batstone, chair, Association of Youth Offending Team Managers

I have no evidence that they do. There are times when young people who are suspected of antisocial behaviour feel they are being kept a closer eye on than they otherwise might warrant, but on the whole the police are not targeting young people without reason.

There are times when officers and the public might see young people as a nuisance and the young people may disagree. For example, when a group of young people standing on a corner might be minding their own business in their view but they are causing alarm to others. In these instances the answer is to break down the barriers between generations, something that police forces are trying to do. And opportunities need to be found for people to talk to each other.