Since early 2018 we have been working with a group of young people to help us understand why young people have low confidence in the police complaints system, the barriers which prevent their engagement and potential solutions to increase trust and confidence.
We commissioned social enterprise Leaders Unlocked to recruit a Youth Panel of more than 20 16-24 year olds from across England and Wales. After a series of meetings with staff from across the IOPC, where the panel learned about our work and the complaints system, they then organised a series of meetings in their local regions. Here they met with more than 800 young people.
The insight drawn from these sessions informed the panel’s findings and recommendations. These were presented by the panel to staff across the IOPC, including Director General Michael Lockwood and a number of other stakeholders, in late 2018. Their final report was published in March 2019.
In their report they summarised their findings as follows (a Welsh language version is also available):
- Many young people felt they would not be listened to if they were to make a complaint.
- The Youth Panel found a significant issue with powerlessness among young people.
- Many young people do not understand of the role and powers of the authorities they interact with, nor do they understand their rights in relation to these authorities.
- Some young people have the perception that the Police have unchecked or ‘absolute power’ and are not answerable to any other authority.
- Many young people said they would not be confident enough to make a complaint and they would even be afraid of complaining.
- Young people with criminal histories felt they wouldn’t be believed due to their pasts
- Many young people simply do not trust authorities, and especially the police.
- The general mistrust of the police and other authorities has a knock-on impact on trust in the police complaints system and in the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
- Young people expressed concerns and doubts about the IOPC’s relationship with the police. Some questioned whether the IOPC was truly independent from the police, and others questioned whether the IOPC exerted sufficient powers over the police.
- Young people told us they didn’t believe the complaints process was one they could trust in, as it requires a young person to first lodge their complaint with the police force they feel they have been wronged by.
- Young people also said they didn’t have faith in the outcome of complaints, as they couldn’t see that complaints lead to positive results.
- The Youth Panel found that identity and diversity characteristics have a real impact on trust and confidence.
- Young people from marginalised and minority groups feel they are less likely to be believed and more likely to be discriminated against.
- When we spoke to members of the LGBTQ+ community, we found that there was a reluctance to report issues to the authorities due to fear of homophobia, being judged, and not being taken seriously.
- When we spoke to members of ethnic minority communities they told us that communities feel let down as a result of cases where the outcomes have not been seen as satisfactory.
- Young people also highlighted gender issues that may deter people from complaining.
- Young people highlighted the key role of social media and wider social influences.
- Young people told us that negative stories and images of police conduct spread very rapidly on social media, contributing to a skewed picture of reality.
- Some young people told us they would fear the reactions of people around them if they were to make a complaint.
- The Youth Panel found the “snitching culture” is widespread among young people. This means that many would avoid any contact with the police for fear of being labelled a snitch.
- Young people told us that they wouldn’t know where to go to make a complaint. The majority of young people attending the peer engagement events were not aware of the existence of the IOPC.
- When we explained the complaints process to young people, we found that the process may deter young people from complaining. Young people expressed concern about the length of time it would take, whether they would understand the language and the steps involved.
- We also heard concerns that there may be particular barriers for those with learning difficulties, mental health issues, and English as a second language.
- The Youth Panel concluded that the complaints system currently does not feel open to all. The Panel felt that more should be done to make the system inclusive and accessible to individuals across the youth population.
In the report the panel also identify and recommend solutions to some of the themes that came up during their work. Their report summarises their recommendations as follows:
- Awareness campaigns: Targeting young people where they spend time – e.g. advertisements on local radio stations, education campuses, on buses and other local transport.
- Social media platforms: Using the social media platforms that young people use to engage them in the work of the IOPC. This could be done by sharing stories, showing ‘day in the life’ of IOPC staff/departments, promoting weekly reports, using polling, sharing real-life success stories, and using comments sections.
- A ‘human face’ to the IOPC: Making the IOPC seem more approachable through communications – e.g. celebrating icons during black history month to connect with BAME communities. It could involve adding to the IOPC brand, e.g. colour, symbols, animations, or word play.
- A young person’s guide to the complaints system: A youth-centred resource de-mystifying the complaints process. This could be done in different formats including poster/ leaflet, animation, info-graphic.
- Working with trusted third parties: Building partnerships with community leaders to build trust and understanding of the IOPC i.e. religious establishments, community & youth groups.
- Youth advocates: Develop a scheme for ‘youth advocates’ in the community to support young people who may need to make a complaint.
- More joint working with IOPC, police and community: Meetings with the police, community members and IOPC representatives, with findings shared through ‘Learning the Lessons’. Potential partnership with one police force to model good practice.
- Continue the engagement with young people: More grassroots engagement with young people in youth centres, community groups and education campuses.
- IOPC People and Diversity
- Reaching diverse talent: Promotion of job, training and volunteering opportunities through charities to target specific groups.
- Staff training and development: Understanding how to communicate and build rapport with young people, including BAME, LGBTQ+, disabled, faith groups etc.
- Transparency around diversity: Sharing information about the current diversity of the IOPC workforce and celebrating progress.
- Community representatives: Establish long standing (voluntary or paid) representatives for the IOPC at the community level.
- Delivering the recommendations: Working on the Youth Panel’s recommendations for communications, community engagement, people and diversity.
- Research and engagement: Continuing to engage with young people at community level to understand their perspectives and raise awareness.
- Scrutiny: Analysis of the cases that the IOPC deals with; scrutiny of the use of media and communications.
- Advice: Providing youth-centred advice to the IOPC on policy and strategy.
- Shadowing and mentoring: Departmental shadowing and reverse mentoring to increase transparency and build understanding.
The panel is now continuing into its second year. Initially, they will identify which recommendations they wish to prioritise and then develop a plan for delivering them.
The Youth Panel also contributed to our Learning the Lessons magazine that focused on Stop and Search. Three panel members wrote about their experiences and they also provided advice on how to carry out stop and searches in a way that respects young people and gains their confidence in the tactic.
To ensure the momentum of the work done by the panel is not lost we have, in line with their recommendation, agreed to continue our work with them into a second year.
Leaders Unlocked report - Policing the Pandemic (July 2020)
Our Youth Panel was involved in this study, which explores young people’s views and experiences on policing during lockdown and their recommendations.
Police complaints: a quick guide for young people.
Poster on tips for when you come into contact with young people.
A Welsh version of our tips for when you come into contact with young people poster is also available.