Spotlight on Young Adults
This timely spotlight focuses on promising and innovative work on young adults that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across the country are commissioning and supporting across the country. Our aim is to share examples of good practice and inform the ongoing debate on the future of the PCC role.
Our recent review of all police and crime plans found that two thirds of PCCs recognise the distinct vulnerability of young people in transition to adulthood. A quarter of PCCs highlight ‘youth’ or ‘young adulthood’ as a key priority within their latest plans. This briefing aims to demonstrate some of the innovative work behind the headline figures.
The examples show what PCCs can do to help young adults and people who come into repeated contact with the police as a result of their unmet needs. They also demonstrate how the PCCs can improve responses to these people,thereby helping to cut crime and end ‘revolving door’ offending.
We highlight a range of successful approaches taking an ambitious ‘whole system’ view. These include:
• Diversion
• Targeted support during the transition to adulthood
• Extension of existing youth services
• Engagement with young adults to harness the power of lived experience.
We believe that these will be of interest to all PCCs, given the high demand that young adults place on the police and criminal justice agencies. PCCs are in an important position to show leadership on this issue. Using their key strategic and commissioning role, they can drive forward partnerships that will improve the criminal justice system’s responses to young adults.
