Young people have advice on what makes the police safe
The police, like all other public services, have an obligation to understand the perspectives of groups of children who have experience interacting with the police when practices are being further developed. This is also wise in order to ensure that the police work in ways that are safe and effective from the point of view of children and young people.
Since 2009, Forandringsfabrikken has gathered experiences and advice from young people who have been in contact with the police. Their responses have been summarized in several reports, including “Justicepros” (2010), “Angry on the Outside, Hurting on the Inside” (2020), and “Not Mean – There`s always a reason” (2021).
In recent weeks, young people with experience of interacting with the police on the street have visited preventive units in two different police districts. The focus has been on how the police can work in ways that feel safe for young people while also working effectively.
Some of the topics presented included:
✔️ What characterizes safe police
✔️ Reasons why young people commit crime
✔️ How the police can create safety and build trust
✔️ How to share information about children in ways that are safe and uphold children’s rights
✔️ How to conduct conversations when the police is concerned in ways that feel safe and helpful