Children, Young People and the Police

1. Children, Young People and the Police Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer, QPM National Policing Lead for Children and Young People

2. The Police and Criminal Justice • “Your job is nothing more, and nothing less, than to cut crime” Home Secretary June 2010 • The achievements of the police “are more often than not despite the system rather than because of it” Home Secretary March 2011 • Comprehensive policing reforms will “restore police discretion” and increase “accountability to local communities” Home Secretary March 2011

3. Our achievements Despite a significant decrease policing budgets resulting in less police officers and police staff. Continued reduction (or least maintenance of previous decreases) in recorded crimes. Decreases in the reports anti-social behaviour, particularly persistent and frequent. Increased use of community and restorative justice solutions Over 50% reduction in arrests of under 18’s since 2008

4. What is restorative justice? Restorative Justice (RJ) processes bring those harmed by crime or conflict, and those responsible for the harm, into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.

5. Community & Restorative Justice Solutions • Improve victim satisfaction • Result in sustainable reductions in re-offending • Promote effective community engagement; • Build effective community resilience & social capital; • Focus on certain crime types, low level disorder & anti-social behaviour • Build trust and confidence in police & the wider criminal justice system

6. Other police changes • Prior to the necessary and required changes in legislation (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) chief officers agreed to move to appropriate adults for all 17 year olds. • Police Authorised Professional Practice now includes guidance for Appropriate Adults • Recognised systems for voluntary attendance in lieu of arrest • Seeking reform of Section 38(6) PACE to reduce numbers of children detained post charge.

7. National Policing Children & Young Person group Our strategic priorities: • A safer, more cohesive society, improving the opportunities for all children and young people. • A police service that is respected and trusted by children and young people. • Work with others to make a positive difference and reduce the cost of dealing with crime & disorder involving or affecting young people

8. National Policing Children & Young Person group Our operational priorities: Prevention, enforcement and justice Engagement and early intervention Sharing information and exploiting technology

9. We share the aim of the Howard League to: IMPROVE THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE POLICE, BUILT ON A BASE OF MUTUAL RESPECT.

10. And finally …… • The police only part of the larger criminal justice machine, sometimes we are the large cog and more often than not we are the small, • At times we can be the lubricant that makes the system work more smoothly and sometimes we need to be the grit the clogs up the machine, • We are one of the very few parts of the system that has statutory responsibilities for both the victim and the offender, • Above all else, our purpose is to save lives and protect people from harm.