Supporting children in the police station – for Youth Justice Services
A practical one-day online course for Youth Justice Services
Date: Thursday 10th December 2026
Time: 10am-4.00pm
Cost: £240 | £120 YJLC Members (contact [email protected] for your members' discount code or membership information).
How can Youth Justice Services help protect children’s rights at the police station and support better outcomes?
This full-day interactive workshop is for Youth Justice Services practitioners who support children at the police station, whether as appropriate adults or in another capacity. It will build participants’ understanding of child suspects’ legal rights and entitlements, helping them protect children’s interests and support better outcomes.
The workshop will cover:
- The key law and procedures governing children’s treatment at the police station, including powers of arrest and detention.
- Children’s rights during searches, including strip searches.
- Fitness to be interviewed.
- Police bail and remand, including the roles and responsibilities of key agencies.
- Consideration of National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referrals.
- Potential outcomes following a police interview.
- Out-of-court resolutions for children, including their requirements and criminal record implications.
Practical case studies will give participants opportunities to apply their learning to fitness to be interviewed and police bail and remand decisions. A facilitated group discussion will explore out-of-court resolutions for children.
By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to assess and support children at the police station, advocate effectively and appropriately on their behalf and contribute confidently to decisions throughout their time at the police station.
The workshop will be facilitated by Ruth McGregor-Hamann
Ruth is a leading youth justice lawyer with a distinguished career advocating for children. She co-founded Just for Kids Law, served on the youth team at top-tier firm Hodge Jones & Allen, and has been a trusted trainer with the Youth Justice Legal Centre for many years. Her extensive frontline experience—from advising children nationwide through the YJLC Advice Line to representing them in police stations and courts—gives her unparalleled insight into diversion and out-of-court decision-making. With over a decade of involvement in youth-focused charities and hands-on work with children, Ruth brings exceptional expertise and credibility to every session.