Our approach
Introduction and background
1.1 Children and young people in Scotland are an important part of the communities Police Scotland serve.
There are about one million children under 18 years of age in Scotland. They are from diverse backgrounds with differing needs.
Police Scotland is committed to working with all members of our communities.
1.2 It is crucial that we understand what we mean when we talk about children and young people.
There are many different definitions of age in Scotland. It can make defining an individual as a young person or a child more complex.
In the past we have generally defined a child as being under 16 years of age. However, we recognise that nationally and internationally children are defined as under 18 years of age.
We also realise that young people are considered to be between 18 and 24 years of age.
The commitments here set out here focus on those below 18 years of age. However, we recognise the importance of our ongoing commitment to 18 - 24-year-olds.
This is in areas such as engagement, prevention, vulnerability and safety.
For more information on the context of age please visit United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
1.3 This approach sets out Police Scotland’s priorities and commitments to children and young people.
The nature of modern policing and the rate of change within society have seen the need for tailored policing responses.
Solutions are also needed to make sure Police Scotland supports our children and young people. Most importantly, they should be kept safe.
Vision and values
2.1 It is vital that children and young people in Scotland feel an integral part of our communities. They should feel empowered to have their voice heard and be taken seriously.
Our approach is our commitment to the younger members of our communities on what they can expect from Police Scotland.
This states the importance of the principles that are central to our service. These are namely integrity, fairness and respect.
How we work
3.1 Our aim is to help children and young people. Also to help those who care for them to be aware of the things that pose them the greatest risk.
We also wish to offer advice on how to minimise or remove those risks from their lives.
3.2 Police Scotland is a single service working with partners to implement Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC).
Local officers are there to be visible within the communities they serve.
We work in partnership with local services. These include health, schools and other specialists within local authorities, including social workers.
To support our local officers there are additional resources available when required.
They are depicted in the references to “Early Intervention” and“ Tailored Services” shown in the kites. How those services work together are explained in the following sections.
Local policing
4.1 Local Policing is central to the effectiveness of Police Scotland and is core to our statutory role.
Approximately 75% of our officers are aligned to Local Policing.
4.2 Our Annual Policing Plan outline show we will deliver on our priorities.
Through discussions with our communities we can identify their priorities. We can ensure they are reflected in the work we do to keep people safe.
4.3 The work of our local policing teams and, in particular, our community officers aim to provide meaningful engagement with the children and young people in our communities.
Through our work we are looking to strengthen engagement with children and young people.
This is an important opportunity to hear the views of young people about the issues that affect them. We also want to hear about what they are concerned about.
4.4 We participate in a range of proactive engagement and diversionary activities which address the individual needs of our communities.
This work looks to draw on the resources and assets available in those areas. This is provide positive opportunities for our children and young people.
Early intervention
5.1 Early and Effective Intervention (EEI) is an important part of the work of Police Scotland. This is in conjunction with partners in relation to youth justice.
However, this approach recognises that Early Intervention is applicable to the wider work we do. We identify and address wellbeing concerns about children through Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC).
5.2 Police Scotland recognises that the vast majority of children and young people do not engage in criminal or other antisocial activity.
However, if they do, we will work with their communities and relevant local partners to understand why issues arise in communities. We will be part of a meaningful plan to address the causes of this behaviour.
This includes activities that encourage positive outcomes for children. It will improve the quality of life for communities as a whole.
5.3 Early Intervention also involves individual work to identify the needs of children and young people.
This has seen the development of a national system for officers to record concerns about children and young people. This is done through the use of the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators to outline the cause of their concerns.
This can be for a range of reasons, including when children or young people go missing or when they offend.
5.4 Police Scotland recognises that we are only one part in the partnership chain which must provide support to our children and young people.
We work with our partners both locally and nationally to respond to the needs of children and young people.
Those needs must be shared with the right person, as early as possible. This is to provide the most effective intervention to support improved outcomes for children and young people.
Police Scotland understands the importance of involving children and young people in this process and listening to their views.
However this will not always be possible, particularly where there are urgent concerns.
Tailored services
6.1 A single police service for Scotland has provided an opportunity to ensure we have dedicated staff in a number of areas.
This work with local partners offers the best support to children and young people.
6.2 The following are some examples of the work we do:
Substance misuse. The Choices for Life programme is central to this work. It links to the delivery of this vital preventative message through our local policing teams.
Equality and Diversity. To ensure that the protected characteristics, identified in the Equality Act 2010, and Human Rights are considered. This is both in our policies and our response to hate crimes.
Public Protection. The national Child Abuse Investigation Unit is a team of dedicated, specialist officers who are there to carry out complex investigations. They support the work of our local Child Protection Units.
Internet Safety. We recognise the opportunities that the online world can provide, particularly for our children and young people. We realise that this can also be exploited by those who wish to harm them. Our national structure has provided for a greater focus and better planned resources in response to the threats from Cyber Crime.
Strategic drivers
7.1 The following international and national policies, legislation and Police Scotland policies have all helped to influence and mould our priorities.
- Scottish Police Authority Strategic Policy 1: Make Communities Safer and reduce harm by tackling and investigating crime and demonstrating pioneering approaches to prevention and collaboration at a national and local level
- Police and Fire Reform (Scotland Act 2012)
- Police Scotland Annual Police Plan
- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
- Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
- Children (Scotland) Act 1995
- Community Planning Partnerships - Specifically Children's services planning, child protection committees, corporate parenting planning and community safety partnerships.
- Scottish Government - Preventing Offending Getting it Right for Children and Young People
- Children's (Scotland) Hearing Act 2011
- European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
- Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003
- Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014.
Measuring success
8.1 There are many factors which influence the lives of children and young people. Understanding how successful the support has been is often assessed differently.
There are opportunities for agencies across Scotland to move towards a more consistent language around the needs of our children and young people.
This must provide for better outcomes. They must improve life chances for all children and young people in Scotland.
This will also support the development of our work as a Corporate Parent. It will support looked after children and care leavers.
Monitoring and security
9.1 An action plan will be developed. This will monitor how successful we are at delivering on the commitments of document.
This will evolve and develop. It will be led by the Police Scotland Safer Communities team. The work under taken will reach across all areas of policing.
