Page 76 - JUSTICE Tackling Racial Injustice - Children and the Youth Justice System

challenges of many school exclusions, ensuring children stay in school,
preventing the risk of them becoming involved in criminal activities.

3.46 We consider that such support would be useful throughout the CJS (in addition
to provision for adequate legal assistance) and recommend a service be
established that supports disempowered parents through to court, perhaps
similar to the work of Support through Court. 216 This would allow parents to
better understand the process and ensure their child has the support they need,
should it be necessary. Some organisations have been doing this informally,
such as Another Night of Sisterhood, who have been hosting online community
discussions throughout lockdown. These discussions educate parents and raise
awareness about issues such as police powers, serious violence reduction
orders and COVID-19 fines.

3.47 In this vein, Wood Green Police station is piloting a scheme where parents or
guardians of children who are arrested are shown a video at the police station.
The video “reassures [parents and guardians] they are not alone and describes
the experience of people who managed to find a route away from crime. At the
end, they are handed a card with tips on talking to the children and contacts for
support groups.” 217 Similarly, Y-stop have produced a guide for parents on stop
and search. 218 These are all excellent initiatives that should be widely
disseminated and supported if a service is not established.

3.48 Moreover, it is vital that interpreters are available for parents as well as
children at every stage of the justice system. If an interpreter is not available,
the process should be paused, unless delay will adversely affect the child.

3.49 Out of court, there are many opportunities for criminal justice actors to better
understand BAME children. 219 We consider that the earlier this happens, the

216 Support through Court is a UK charity that supports people who have to represent themselves in
court. The aim is to "reduce the disadvantage of people facing the civil and family justice system without
a lawyer, enabling them to access justice" and believe that "no one should face court alone". See ‘About’
Support Through Court.
217 The results of the evaluation should be published at the end of this year: see R. Wright, ‘Met police
gather clues to best practice in fighting crime’, The Financial Times, 8 October 2020.
218 StopWatch, Stop and Search: a guide for parents and children, 2017.
219 See, for example, Hazel, C. Drummond, M. Welsh, K. Joseph, Using an identity lens: constructive
working with children in the criminal justice system, (University of Salford, Manchester, April, 2020).

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