Page 56 - JUSTICE Tackling Racial Injustice - Children and the Youth Justice System

heard that potential issues of vulnerability and exploitation are explained away
as social norms. For instance, we have heard that on one occasion, a girl was
at risk of forced marriage, with all the relevant indicators. Despite this, the
social worker dismissed concerns by stating that girls within the GRT
community always get married young. There is also a perception from within
BAME communities that first responders and police will not act, as the
community’s “faith allows” some crimes to happen against girls and young
women. This is extremely concerning. Although we encourage understanding
of community contexts this should not excuse dismissing indicators of
vulnerability and exploitation. Where indicators of vulnerability and
exploitation of BAME girls and young women are identified, the proper
procedures – whether for forced marriage or modern slavery – must be
followed.

2.72 Across all BAME groups, children need to be seen as children by actors in the
YJS. The next chapters consider how this can be achieved.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

• The Home Office should launch a review on the police’s use of force, and
specifically tasers, on children, BAME people and those with mental
health difficulties;
• Police forces must prioritise a return toward neighbourhood policing;
• The Home Office should immediately suspend and review the use of
section 60 powers, which allow individuals to be searched
indiscriminately without reasonable suspicion;
• The Gangs Violence Matrix, which unfairly labels children as potentially
violent, should be abolished; and
• Evidence involving Drill music should not be used as bad character
evidence unless it is strictly relevant to the crime at hand.

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