Nottinghamshire's young people call for stronger action on online safety, knife crime and exploitation
Young people from across Nottinghamshire have set out a series of recommendations to improve their safety, strengthen trust in policing and ensure their voices are at the heart of decisions affecting them.
The Nottinghamshire Youth Commission, led by Leaders Unlocked, has presented its latest recommendations following months of peer-led conversations, workshops and surveys with young people across the county.
Established in 2015 with funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, the Youth Commission enables young people aged 14-25 to influence decisions around policing and crime.
This year, it gathered more than 1,200 responses from young people to help identify the issues that matter most to them.
The findings have identified four key priorities: online safety, knife crime and street violence, healthy relationships and gangs and exploitation.
The recommendations are designed to turn young people’s experiences into practical action by Nottinghamshire Police, The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire and partner organisations.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Angela Kandola, who recently attended the Youth Commission's Big Conversation at Joint Headquarters in Arnold, said: “The Youth Commission gives young people a genuine opportunity to shape the work of policing and partners across Nottinghamshire, and I am grateful to every young person who has shared their experiences and ideas.
“Their message is clear: young people want to feel safe, listened to and respected, whether they are at school, travelling through their community or using social media.
“These recommendations give us a clear opportunity to turn that insight into action. From making it easier to report online harm and building trust between young people and the police, to preventing knife crime and exploitation, the focus must be on listening to young people and working with them to find solutions.
“The Youth Commission has shown that young people do not simply want to be consulted about decisions that affect them - they want to be part of shaping those decisions.
“We will continue working with the Youth Commission, Nottinghamshire Police and our partners to make sure their voices remain part of the conversation and that we build a safer Nottinghamshire where young people can thrive.”
Young people explained that they have concerns about the safety of children and young people on social media, including the spread of violent and harmful content. More than 45 per cent of those surveyed said they had experienced something online that made them feel unsafe.
The Youth Commission is calling for clearer information about the police response to online crime, easier reporting routes and greater use of the social media platforms young people already use to provide advice and support.
It also wants stronger partnerships between the police, PCC, youth organisations and other agencies to identify emerging online risks and develop youth-led campaigns.
Knife crime and street violence remain a concern for young people, with fear of coming forward labelled as one of the barriers that can prevent victims and witnesses from reporting incidents.
The Youth Commission wants to see more opportunities for young people to build positive relationships with police officers in schools, youth centres and community spaces.
Young people have also highlighted the importance of better education around consent, abuse and what healthy relationships look like.
The recommendations call for young people to have clearer information about recognising controlling behaviour, grooming and other warning signs, as well as knowing where they can access confidential support and how to report concerns.
The fourth priority is gangs and exploitation, with young people highlighting the role that social media, financial pressures and a lack of positive opportunities can play in increasing vulnerability.
The Youth Commission is calling for a trauma-informed, child-first approach when young people are found with weapons or drugs, recognising that they may themselves be victims of grooming, coercion or exploitation.
The overall recommendations include using young people’s experiences to identify where and when they feel most unsafe, developing a new campaign on gangs and exploitation, and creating welcoming youth events where concerns can be raised and support can be accessed.
Its work is intended to ensure that young people’s experiences help shape policing priorities, prevention activity and support services across Nottinghamshire. The Commission has already worked directly with Nottinghamshire Police through Youth Independent Advisory Group meetings, creating opportunities for transparent conversations and joint actions on issues chosen by young people.