Young adults
There is considerable evidence from neurology, psychology and criminology to show that young adults (aged 18 to 25) vary enormously in their maturity. The parts of the brain responsible for planning and impulse control are some of the last to develop, leading to variations in psycho-social maturity. Alongside this is the ‘drop off’ in statutory services for a young person as soon they turn 18. The over-representation of young adults in the criminal justice system points to the need for a tailored approach to help them turn away from crime which recognises that some have suffered serious trauma affecting their development and behaviour.
Knowledge Exchange Network
Together with Revolving Doors Agency, the Police Foundation runs the Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN) that brings together operational police at all levels from across England and Wales to co-create new and better ways to deliver a person-centred approach to policing.
This KEN provides police with peer-to-peer learning and support, recognising the wealth of knowledge and expertise among police officers. It is an opportunity to share evidence and tackle difficult issues, specifically those that affect young adults.
The Network will focus on upscaling and mainstreaming evidence-based practice in areas such as:
- Procedural fairness
- Diversion schemes
- Policing’s role in responding to trauma and inequalities
- Improving community engagement mechanisms
Meetings are held quarterly and new members from police services across the UK are welcome.
For further information on the KEN or to join the KEN mailing list please contact Nicole Graveson at the Police Foundation.
Practice Development
Thames Valley Police
As part of the young adults project the Police Foundation has conducted a research project with Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to understand what a whole-systems, trauma-informed approach to preventing the criminalisation of young adults would look like in Oxford City. We looked at a number of serious case reviews to assess at which points in the young person’s life there could have been a trauma-informed intervention. We produced several recommendations for Thames Valley to help them implement more trauma-informed practices.
Sussex Police
The Police Foundation completed an in-depth project with Sussex Police to understand how the force can promote desistance from crime, reduce reoffending and support young adults to avoid the cycling through the criminal justice system. We sought to understand the steps required to extend the current youth diversion arrangements to young adults. This resulted in a bespoke report with recommendations and a suggested implementation plan for the force to consider.
Staffordshire Violence Reduction Alliance
Since 2023 the Police Foundation has been working with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Violence Reduction Alliance to investigate current effectiveness of early intervention, specifically its navigator service. This includes an assessment of current policies, interviews with key police and non-police stakeholders and data analysis to understand the effectiveness of, and challenges with, current practices, as well as exploring the barriers and opportunities for expanding the navigator service to the young adult cohort.