Our Youth Panel

Since its formation in 2018, the Youth Panel has provided us with an invaluable perspective on why under-25s have low confidence in the complaints system, the barriers to making a complaint and how to improve engagement with this age group. Once we had decided that a Youth Panel was needed to engage with young people, we commissioned Leaders Unlocked, the not-for-profit social enterprise, to recruit the Panel and to support them in their work. 

Our Youth Panel is made up of 42 young people aged 16-25 from diverse communities across England and Wales. They talk to their peers and help identify potential solutions to increase young people’s trust and confidence in both policing, and the police complaints system. The Panel meet with us on a regular basis to inform our understanding of policing matters that affect young people and to contribute on a range of projects.

Panel members have been guest editors of our Learning the Lessons magazine, have created the well-received Young Persons Guide to the Police Complaints System document and accompanying video, and a ‘know your rights’ social media campaign. They have also produced blogs for our website.

Looking ahead, the Youth Panel is focused on turning its Manifesto for Change into a reality by 2030. Building on the lived experiences and priorities of young people, the panel is now actively engaging with key stakeholders across policing, government, and community organisations to champion the recommendations set out in the manifesto. Through ongoing dialogue, advocacy, and collaboration, the panel aims to ensure that young people’s voices shape meaningful improvements to the police complaints system and wider policing practice.