Page 63 - JUSTICE Tackling Racial Injustice - Children and the Youth Justice System

checklist has been introduced, which must be reviewed and signed off by a
designated officer (Inspector). 184

3.11 The MPS has also embraced the fact that the way they use language is
important, acknowledging that communications with children have at times
been ineffective. As a result, children have not understood what was happening
to them, compounding the trauma that arrest can cause. The MPS now works
with MOPAC to improve language and information. In addition, they have
begun working with the UK Youth Parliament to design leaflets with language
that is easier for children to understand. 185

3.12 The IOPC have also used a similar model, creating a ‘Young Adults’ panel,
some of whom have had experiences in the YJS. Their task is both to help
inform young adults about their rights and the complaints process, as well as
to create learning opportunities for police officers about how to interact with
children.

3.13 We are impressed with the desire to learn from children that has been shown
through these projects. In addition to learning and improving processes, it can
only serve to improve communication and ensure children understand
important processes. We consider that there is potential for similar mock walk
throughs to take place in other parts of the YJS. For instance, this may improve
stop and search practice, trials and sentencing hearings.

3.14 We consider that such initiatives would be beneficial for all actors in the CJS,
from police, through to the judiciary. Indeed, in some prisons restorative
practice is improving the relationship between prisoners and staff. 186 This
should result in better outcomes for the children passing through the YJS as
both sides more fully understand not only their own role, but the experience of
the other person – helping a judge to see a child as a child, and adjust their
approach accordingly.

184 ‘Freedom of Information Request – Police Protection of Children Policy’, 2018.
185 The UK Youth Parliament is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, consisting of
democratically elected members aged between 11 and 18. It has 369 members, who are elected to
represent the views of children in their area to government and service providers.
186 A. Ali, Responding restoratively series: #1 Responding restoratively to COVID-19, (Criminal Justice
Alliance, August 2020), p. 17.

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