Do Community-Led Organisations Hinder British Policing? Debunking the Myth of Community Leaders Overriding Individual Justice for Young People

By Jas Dhanoa

Although some argue that community-led organisations hinder British policing, and that young people are dealt with through community leaders rather than individually, this rhetoric omits the legion of benefits provided by the third sector. Additionally, it overlooks the ways in which criminal justice practices can be strengthened through the community.

Community Solutions & Diversion

Victimisation and social adversities have been linked to children and young people entering the criminal justice system. Rather than filter them into a system that will exacerbate these vulnerabilities and increase reoffending, scholars advocate for maximising diversion (McAra and McVie, 2010). Community-led organisations can help with the production of new diversionary programmes that prioritise conserving the rights and promoting the welfare of children.

Additionally, as noted by Smith (2021), although the effects of austerity have had negative impacts for agencies like the police and probation, there may be space for community-based solutions and innovations to emerge and facilitate more transformative modes of youth diversion. Doing so may alleviate some of the stresses on police forces, as young people can be diverted to the community and police resources can be directed elsewhere. In fact, research examining voluntary organisations such as the Neighbourhood Watch, Street Pastors, and Crimestoppers, highlights the significance of their work in combatting crime and protecting communities, however also emphasises the appreciation police officers have for them – juxtaposed to the idea of voluntary organisations hindering policing (Tomczak and Buck, 2019).

Regardless of whether young people are dealt with more frequently through community leaders or not, this may be a more effective means of engaging with young people. Community-led organisations can help in the provision of youth-focused approaches that avoid perpetuating the labelling, social exclusion, and stigmatisation experienced by young people, in contrast with the consequences of formal, state-led proceedings (Deakin et al., 2022). Furthermore, young people report mistrust of the police, feeling targeted, and doubts regarding their ability to protect them, thus resulting in hesitance in relying on the police in times of need (Deakin et al., 2022).

Allowing the police to exclusively handle young people could jeopardise their desistance from offending as the interactions may reproduce stigmatisation and the attribution of the risk label, which can have wider ramifications in criminal record attainment or negative life and opportunity outcomes (Deakin et al., 2022). Diverting youth away from the justice system entirely, and therefore delegating some responsibility to communities, is likely to be more effective for their personal development. Plus, the focus on social inclusion and pathways to education by community organisations is more beneficial in mitigating the consequences of labelling and stigma, while also cultivating spaces for positive changes in justice-involved young people (Deakin et al., 2022).

Rebuilding Trust

Community-led organisations and their leaders can assist in improving the relationship between the police and the community. Trust and confidence in the police – particularly amongst ethnic minorities, women, and young people – has been deteriorating for a number of reasons; most notably the institutional racism, misogyny, and homophobia highlighted by the Casey Report (2023). As such, strengthening police-community relations is paramount for a number of reasons.

On one hand, it elicits cooperation and fair policing outcomes, which bolsters crime prevention, public safety, and the perceived quality of police services (Government Events, 2024). On the other, it secures the support of the community, reduces tensions, and creates resilience in times of crises (Government Events, 2024). Together, each reason emphasises how, rather than hinder policing, community-led organisations can be imperative in remedying frictions and improving the efficacy of policing as the police can work collaboratively with them to enable community initiatives to be supported and mutual respect to blossom (Government Events, 2024). Another strength of community-led organisations is that staff and volunteers can act as spokespeople for the community, incorporating lived experiences into their practices – something that has been found to encourage engagement in institutional settings (Abrams et al., 2019).

Multi-agency Approaches

It is more efficacious for communities and agencies to work together in tackling the structural factors that contribute to youth offending. Research has consistently suggested that implementing multi-agency approaches when handling young people can be more effective and cohesive, as it allows for a holistic practice that can better address the vulnerabilities and complex needs of justice-involved or at-risk youth (Souhami, 2019). It has also been suggested that collaborative approaches that maximise community resources and more efficiently identify the needs of young people are more likely to be successful at engendering change (OJJDP, 1995). Given the potential risks associated with formal agencies reinforcing labels and stigma, supplementing multi-agency approaches with increased involvement from community-led organisations who are able to subvert this is worth considering.  

What Young People Want

Finally, community-based solutions may be especially valuable for young people.

Young people desire positive relationships with youth workers founded on trust, respect, and the ability to communicate freely without fear of judgement or reprimand (Deakin et al., 2022). Environments that are safe, secure, and free from stigma and punitive treatment are also valued (Deakin et al., 2022). Interventions founded on these dynamics have been found to be more effective, and young people themselves express that voluntary and community-led organisations are more likely to facilitate these interventions that encourage change, are supportive, and creative positive relationships that promote personal growth in young people without perpetuating oppressive cycles (Deakin et al., 2022). Moreover, it is important to acknowledge young people as stakeholders in their communities who should be involved in addressing the issues of youth crime and violence, which can also mitigate feelings of isolation and disengagement often experienced by young people (OJJDP, 1995). Community-led organisations can assist with this, and allowing community leaders to deal with young people where possible is beneficial for all.

To conclude, community-led organisations do not hinder British policing. On the contrary, there are profound benefits to working collaboratively to most effectively address the issues affecting young people in society.

References

Abrams, L. S., Moreno, L., and Harrikari, T. (2019) ‘The Voluntary Sector Role in Youth and Young Adult Justice Services: A Comparative Case Study of Finland and England/Wales’, Youth Justice, 19(3), 278-298.

Casey, L. (2023) ‘An independent review into the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police Service’. Available at: https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/met/about-us/baroness-casey-review/update-march-2023/baroness-casey-review-march-2023a.pdf.

Deakin, J., Fox, C., and Harragan, A. (2022) ‘Help or hindrance? Rethinking interventions with ‘troubled youth’’, International Journal of Law in Context, 18(1), 100-115.

Government Events (2024) ‘Police-Community Relationships: Importance & Strategies’. Available at: https://www.governmentevents.co.uk/ge-insights/the-importance-of-police-community-relationships-strategies/

McAra, L. and McVie, S. (2010) ‘Youth crime and justice: Key messages from the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime’, Criminology & Criminal Justice, 10(2), 179-209.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1995) ‘Strengthen and Mobilize Communities’. Available at: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/action/sec6.htm

Smith, R. (2021) ‘Diversion, Rights and Social Justice’, Youth Justice, 21(1), 18-32.

Souhami, A. (2019) ‘Multi-agency practice and professional identity’. In M. Robb, H. Montgomery, and R. Thomson (eds), Critical Practice with Children and Young People. 2nd edition. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 179-197.

Tomczak, P. and Buck, G. (2019) ‘The Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector: Concepts and an Agenda for an Emerging Field’, The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, 58(3), 276-297.