Transcript Raising the Volume of the Youth Voice in Policing Gwanwyn Mason Metropolitan Police Service.

Raising the Volume of the
Youth Voice in Policing
Gwanwyn Mason
Metropolitan Police Service
Context
• 15 Million under 19s in the UK
• Around 900,000 children of secondary school
age in London
• 22% of young Londoners afraid of other young
people in their area
• 51% of young Londoners have never been
asked to contribute to their area
• 40% young people felt the police weren't
there for them (SLF Youth Survey 2011)
• Policing by Consent
The Riots – a case study
• 85% of those involved in the Riots said the
Police were an important factor
• "If you keep getting poked, you're gonna go
mad" Rioter, Salford
• 17 Months – average jail term for a Rioter
• Engagement with CJ confirms criminal ID
• 81% rioters believe it'll happen again, 65%
would be involved again
Why do Young people offend?
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Role modelled / learnt behaviour
A history of unchallenged behaviour
Abuse / neglect
A need for belonging / respect
Boredom / lack of alternative entertainment
Mental Health Problems
Drug Misuse
Why Engage?
" Talk to us young people for god's sake – we are
human too!"
"Listen to young people instead of just accusing them,
get them involved rather than standing back. If
anyone can help, we can."
I'm not saying the police or young people are
blameless, but it comes down to a lack of
understanding and respect."
"There is no point in just saying the Police are
rubbish….we need to hurry up and do something
about it!"
"It's just a question of manners really…"
It is our job…
How do we engage?
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Safer London Foundation Youth Ambassadors
Youth Conferences
Youth Survey – fed back to Commissioner
Safer Schools
Child Abuse Investigation Command Forum
Young Leaders Forum
Gang Command Diversion Programmes
Met Active – sports based initiatives
99% Campaign
Ward Youth panels
Black Police Association
Volunteer Police Cadets
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Young People between 13 & 18
25% from vulnerable backgrounds
50% BME, 50% female
Units in every borough
Tracking identified risk factors
Developing leaders of the future
Creating a sustainable programme led by and
delivered for young people
What they say…
“...then I met PC Piper and the guys a legend. People were telling me ‘oh you’re a
hood rat’ they were trying to pull me down, but PC Piper told me, ‘just stay
here’, he used to talk to me whenever I had problems" Cadet, Hackney
“...you just see the police from a completely different side…more of a laid back
friendly side” Cadet, Southwark
“Nah, but it’s good though...when you come here, it’s like another family innit”
Cadet, Redbridge
"I absolutely hated the feds before I joined, I never understood them but now I get
it. They're not perfect but it's a hard job you know"
Cadet, Hounslow
I'm really proud of what I've done here. I never really got on at school, but this is ok,
I'm hoping to get to college next year – I never thought I'd say that!
What do they give us?
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46,000 hours of volunteering in Summer 2012,
Taskable resource
Reduce pressure on frontline resources
Mystery Shopping
Crime Prevention
Problem Solving
Community engagement & Public Confidence
Delivery of Key Messages
Critical Friends
Natural Problem Solvers
• Youth Strategy Development – quality
standards for youth engagement
• Youth panels and forums
• Young ambassadors
• Marketing and publicity – My Met
• Social networking
• Meeting attendees
• Interview Panels
• Peer Mentors
When it comes to engaging with young
people, we are only limited by our
imagination
Sometimes that is the biggest barrier of
all…