Police to approve youth strategy

The organisation's youth issues group has put together the guidance, It's Never Too Early, It's Never Too Late, to help police work with young people. It is based on four themes: engaging with young people; children and young people as victims and witnesses; children and young people at risk of offending; and children and young people who offend.

The strategy also contains six sections that tie into the four themes, including meeting the Every Child Matters outcomes and using ACPO's neighbourhood policing youth toolkit to reduce use of police jargon.

Roger Baker, chairman of the ACPO youth issues group and chief constable of Essex Police, said the strategy would be an opportunity to reduce youth offending.

"We're too quick to demonise those young people, most of whom look to us for help," he said.

The strategy is to be put to chief constables at a meeting on 5 December.