Police criticised for their ‘inconsistent’ dealings with young people during lockdown

The survey of 3,500 young people found “some positive examples of police forces dealing sensitively with vulnerability”.

But young people also detailed how police had been intimidating, aggressive and violent towards them. While some particularly vulnerable young people say police failed to show compassion.

One young person in temporary accommodation was fined for being in public for too long during lockdown, another was threatened by officers for exercising in public. Young people surveyed also reported rough treatment during arrests.

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The inconsistency is polarising trust among young people that their concerns about policing will be listened to. Around a third (34 per cent) said they would “not feel comfortable” making a complaint about police treatment, while around a half (48 per cent) said they would feel “very comfortable” complaining.

The findings are included in the Policing the Pandemic report compiled by youth organisation Leaders Unlocked between May and June. It details the views of 13-25 year-olds on their experiences of policing and crime during the pandemic lockdown.

“They were unnecessarily aggressive,” said one 15-year-old who was surveyed.

“We were out exercising and they stopped us and got out of the car and threatened handcuffs and everything. It was awful.”

Another said: “I am 14-years-old; 13 police officers arrested me at home and it was very frightening for my mum and little brothers and sister aged four. They were very rough and rude to my mum. The arrest was because my electronic tag went off.”

Among the positive examples of policing detailed was a 17-year-old experiencing abuse at home, who described the care from police as “amazing”.

Meanwhile, one 16-year-old, who was outside due to family issues, recounts how she was stopped by a police officer who “nicely told me to be safe and go home as soon as I feel ready”.

Another concern raised is that young people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are being disproportionately stopped and searched.

“Stop and searches during the lockdown have been seen as "points scoring and opportunistic”, says the report.

One 18-year-old surveyed said: “All the times I have been stopped during Covid-19 it has been to harass me and it has not been to do with Covid-19, they do not ask about social distancing and they just want to search me because they see me outside.”

The report includes 11 recommendations for police from young people. This includes specific police training on tackling racial bias and vulnerability. Arrests, fines and searches need to be more effectively scrutinised during the pandemic too, to ensure young people are not being unnecessarily criminalised.

The report has been welcomed by National Police Chiefs Council’s lead for children and young people Jo Shiner, who is also Sussex Police’s temporary chief constable.

“There are a significant number of areas that we in policing need to look at through a self-critical lens,” she said.

Among other recommendations made in the report is for police to use social media more effectively in supporting young people. Too often Facebook and Twitter are used instead of more popular platforms among young people, such as Instagram and TikTok.

Young people also want police to take a clearer stance on the Black Lives Matter movement to tackle racism.

“This important piece of work has elevated the voices of nearly 4,000 young people during lockdown,” added Leaders Unlocked chief executive Rose Dowling.

Last month, former shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds West, warned that racial disproportionality in the England and Wales youth justice system is “as bad as some states in the United States of America”.