Young people 'distressed' by frequent police visits at home, research warns
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Young people with experience of the criminal justice system say the second most common place for them to see police is at their home, with incidents often involving excessive force from officers.
Research involving a survey of 90 young people found that after "out in the community" they most frequently had contact with officers at their home.
“These interactions leave mental and physical reminders that a safe space that has been violated, through property damage, parental criminalisation, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)," warn researchers.
“These experiences are often distressing for an entire family and often increases pressure on the children involved.”
The research has been carried out by youth justice groups Alliance for Youth Justice and Leaders Unlocked, which are calling for improved training for police when dealing with young people.
One young person told researchers that police “have come to my house several times with excessive force that was not needed…had my mum on the floor, crying and haven’t given the support to fix the damage they have done to the house”.
Police are being called on to review and update procedures for officers entering homes that are likely to have a child present “as a matter of urgency”.
“Children suggested that police officers could learn from the approaches taken by staff in secure children's homes in the way they communicate with children to avoid conflict and restraint”, researchers add.
Researchers are also calling on the Home Office to “urgently roll out training requirements” for police to boost their “awareness and sensitivity” around young people. This includes better understanding of issues such as neurodiversity, disabilities and crises young people may be facing.
“In order for police officers to respond more appropriately to children in these interactions, they should receive compulsory training about children's needs and developmentally appropriate de-escalation techniques, language and communication, and trauma-informed responses,” states their research.
Concerns are also raised by researchers around racism blighting support young people receive.
“Negative stereotype-driven, long-term labelling continues to be a trust-eroding issue across many of the services that young people access,” researchers warn.
Young people involved in the research “repeatedly suggested race, nationality, and perceived age as reasons for unequal treatment”.
One young person said the media is perpetuating this behaviour as “so many news channels will label a black child as a black criminal but when it’s a white child they’re just a child”.
