Child‑centred Policing Toolkit – Centre for Justice Innovation
The Centre for Justice Innovation has published a new Child‑centred Policing Toolkit, bringing together evidence, guidance and practical tools to support police forces and partner agencies to embed child‑centred practice in everyday decision‑making. The toolkit focuses on improving outcomes for children in contact with the police and reducing unnecessary harm and criminalisation.
Details
The toolkit is designed as a practical resource for frontline officers, strategic leads and multi‑agency partners, including Youth Justice Services. It aligns with the National Police Chiefs Council's (NPCC) Children and Young Persons Policing Strategy 2024–2027 and Policing Charter 2025 and focuses on key areas of police interaction with children.
It combines summaries of research evidence, clear practice guidance, and practical tools such as templates, good practice examples and ‘top tips’ designed to support consistent and lawful application in real‑world settings.
Four central themes underpin the toolkit:
- Avoiding adultification addresses the well‑documented risk of children being treated as more mature, culpable or resilient than they are, including the disproportionate adultification of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) children. The guidance emphasises recognition of children’s developmental stage, vulnerability and safeguarding needs within police decision‑making.
- Youth diversion focuses on the use of informal, non‑statutory approaches to prevent unnecessary entry into the formal criminal justice system. The toolkit highlights diversion as a key mechanism for reducing the long-term harms associated with criminalisation, including the impact of criminal records, labelling, and disruption to education or employment.
- Effective communication emphasises age‑appropriate engagement with children, using clear and simple language and adapting approaches to the child’s age and level of understanding. It stresses the importance of actively listening to children, respecting their views and ensuring they understand police processes, recognising that poor communication can undermine trust and escalate situations unnecessarily.
- Finally, the toolkit addresses the use of police powers to protect children, including police protection under the Children Act 1989. It highlights that such powers should be exercised lawfully and proportionately, with the child’s best interests as the primary consideration, and used only as a last resort alongside careful consideration of alternative and multi‑agency responses.
Commentary
This toolkit provides a useful framework for those representing children or working within Youth Justice Services to assess whether police decision‑making has been genuinely child‑centred. It may support early representations at the police station, particularly where there are concerns about adultification, missed diversion opportunities or disproportionate use of police powers.
More broadly, the toolkit offers a shared reference point for constructive engagement between lawyers, Youth Justice Services teams and police, and may inform local protocols and training on child‑first approaches. Used effectively, it has the potential to strengthen accountability and reduce the unnecessary criminalisation of children at the earliest stage of the justice process.