NCJ Number
57057
Journal
Police Volume: 11 Issue: 7 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 22,24-26,28
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING POLICE HARASSMENT OF YOUTH IN ENGLAND, CONTAINED IN A REPORT OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH BUREAU, ARE EVALUATED, AND COMMENTS ON POLICING AND POLICE-YOUTH RELATIONS IN INNER CITIES ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
AS AN INDEPENDENT BODY, THE BUREAU SEEMS TO RELY TOTALLY ON GRANTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY TO CONTINUE ITS WORK AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR YOUTH WORKERS. THE BUREAU REPORT PAINTS A GRAPHIC PICTURE OF A FULL-SCALE WAR BETWEEN THE POLICE AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN INNER CITIES IN ITS EVIDENCE TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION. ALLEGATIONS ARE THAT POLICE HARASS YOUTH IN THE STREETS, BEAT THEM IN POLICE STATIONS, BRING FALSE CHARGES, DENY YOUTH THEIR RIGHTS, AND BREAK ALL RULES. AMONG NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE REPORT TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION, SOME OF THE MORE SALIENT ARE (1) LAW RELATED TO STOPPING, QUESTIONING, SEARCHING, AND ARRESTING SHOULD BE CLARIFIED; (2) A YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTER SHOULD BE SET UP TO PROVIDE LEGAL AND OTHER ADVICE; (3) POLICE SHOULD BE TRAINED IN HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUTH; AND (4) POLICE SHOULD BE MORE INVOLVED IN YOUTH WORK. POSITIVE REFERENCES ARE FLEETINGLY MADE IN THE REPORT TO POLICE-YOUTH RELATIONS, INCLUDING THE USE OF NEIGHBORHOOD BEAT OFFICERS AND A JUVENILE LIAISON BUREAU. THE ISSUE OF WHETHER ALLEGATIONS CAN BE SUBSTANTIATED IS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE EVALUATIVE ARTICLE. FROM THE EVIDENCE GIVEN BY YOUTH WORKERS AND YOUTH THEMSELVES, IT IS APPARENT THAT EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG PERSONS IN POLICE STATIONS SHOULD BE OF MAJOR CONCERN AND THAT THE AVENGING ROLE OF POLICING LEADS TO OVER-REACTION ON THE PART OF THE POLICE. CONCLUSIONS ARE THAT POLICE OFFICERS IN MOBILE CARS ARE THE SOURCE OF MANY COMPLAINTS BY YOUTH AND THAT THE USE OF SPECIAL PATROL GROUPS AND SIMILAR FORCES CAN BE DAMAGING TO THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG POLICE, YOUTH, YOUTH WORKERS, AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. EXCERPTS FROM THE BUREAU REPORT ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)