Children and Policing in England and Wales: Adopting a Child First Approach

This research project examined how a Child First approach could be embedded across children’s interactions with the police, including frontline encounters, investigative and arrest decisions, diversion and police custody.

The study used a mixed-methods approach across several police forces, including observations of frontline policing and custody, interviews with police officers, custody staff, youth justice services and other partner agencies, analysis of body-worn video, recorded police interviews and electronic custody records, and examination of local initiatives intended to reduce unnecessary arrest and detention. Children and young people with direct experience of policing and custody contributed through interviews, questionnaires and facilitated group discussions. Their experiences were central to the research, highlighting the importance of listening to children as key stakeholders in reforming policing practice. Children’s accounts also provided important insights into how police decisions, safeguards and procedures are experienced in practice.

What the research found

Findings from the research identified examples of positive and innovative practice, and evaluations of piloted measures to reduce arrest and detention provide a strong evidence base for reform. However, there was also substantial inconsistency. Children were sometimes arrested and detained when less intrusive alternatives could have been considered, and many spent lengthy periods in custody, describing limited information, boredom, isolation and difficulty understanding what was happening.

Children arrested and detained were often highly vulnerable, with high levels of care experience, mental health needs, neurodivergence, and experiences of trauma and exploitation. Children currently ‘looked after’ or known to social care were particularly overrepresented. A substantial proportion of police call-outs involving children related to unmet welfare needs, which could escalate into arrest and criminal justice involvement where partner agency support was unavailable, particularly outside normal working hours.

Racial disproportionality was a strong and recurring theme, with Black children disproportionately represented among those arrested, strip-searched and detained overnight. The findings point to the need for greater scrutiny of decisions on stop and search, arrest, diversion and detention, and for forces to identify and address the processes contributing to unequal outcomes.

Implications for policy and practice

The reports recommend a stronger national framework for Child First policing, including greater scrutiny of arrest decisions, clearer guidance for officers on less intrusive approaches, and earlier involvement of youth justice and safeguarding services. This should be supported by a strengthened presumption against taking children into custody and improved information-sharing with partner agencies while a child is detained. Every child should receive legal advice from lawyers trained and experienced in advising and assisting children in police custody. There should also be child-specific interviewing and custody practice, alongside improved national data and performance measures.

A central recommendation is an extendable 12-hour PACE detention clock for children, already operating as a local policy in several forces and being adopted by others. Children should normally be interviewed and released within 12 hours, with any extension requiring express authorisation and justification by an officer of at least inspector rank.

The research also calls for more determined action to reduce racial disproportionality, and for forces and partner agencies to address the welfare, social and mental health needs underlying repeated police contact. An accompanying Child First Custody Toolkit provides practical guidance for frontline officers, custody teams and senior leaders to support implementation.