Young People's Perceptions of the Police in Scotland
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The document explores young people's perceptions of the police in Scotland, based on a survey of 1,911 respondents aged 12 to 24, primarily focusing on those aged 12 to 16. It finds that while many young people have positive attitudes towards the police, those with previous experiences of crime and anti-social behavior tend to have more negative views and higher dissatisfaction. The report suggests that targeted initiatives could help improve relationships between police and young people in affected areas.
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Young People's Perceptions of the Police in Scotland
- 1. YOUNG PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE IN SCOTLAND PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE IN SCOTLAND As the Scottish Crime Survey represents adults, this survey seeks to gather young people’s perceptions of policing in Scotland. It is commissioned by Young Scot in connection with their work to support the Police Scotland Youth Advisory Panel (PYAP). • It gives a Scottish perspective on young people’s perceptions of the police. • It is not intended to be representative of the wider youth population although the high response rate means that the results give a good indication of young people’s views. • 1,911 young people were surveyed in total (59% female) • Ages range from 12-24 although the vast majority (95%) were aged 12-16. The largest proportion were those aged 12 (38%). • Respondents covered all 32 local authorities. The areas most represented were South Lanarkshire Council (10%), Glasgow City 9.7%, and Edinburgh 8.2%. THE CONTEXT Since 2008-9 there has been around a 30% decrease in recorded crime levels. • According to the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (2012/13) 73% of adults said they were very or fairly confident in their local police force’s ability to investigate incidents after they occur; • Most adults (86%) agreed that local police would treat them with respect if they had a reason to contact them, whilst two-thirds (66%) agreed that the local police can be relied upon to be there when needed; • Over half (56%) of adult respondents reported that the police patrolled their area regularly, with just over one-fifth (21%) being aware of the police patrolling on foot. ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS There were 1,911 respondents SOCIAL FACTORS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF CRIME AND/OR POLICING POLICE PRESENCE IN LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOODS THE MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS HAVE HAD NO POLICE CONTACT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS Gender (n=1,749) Male 36%Female 59% Prefer not to say 5% Ethnic Origin (n=1,704) How old are you? (n=1,742) White British/Scottish 88% 12 38.2% Asian/Asian British/Scottish 4% 14 8.3% Other/Prefer not to say 3% 15 10.8% 16 9.4% 17 9.4% 18 6.1% 19 2.8% 20+ 5.2% Black/Black British/Scottish & Mixed/multiple ethnic groups 1% 13 9.7% More than a quarter (576) of participants are affected by one or more of the identified social factors. The majority of young people have seen police officers in cars often or sometimes. Far fewer (35%) respondents have seen the police on bikes in their neighbourhood. Almost a tenth (9.7%) regard their parents/ guardians as being on a low income. 9.7% More than a third say that they know their rights if they are stopped and searched by the police. However a few noted that they don’t know their rights and felt that was wrong and is something that they should know. Young people are almost as likely see police officers in their school as they are on foot (73% to 81% respectively). The majority of participants (79%) have never been in any trouble with the police. 79% 97% Slightly more than 10% admit to having been a victim of crime ... 10% 35% ... whereas only 3.5% claim to have committed a crime. 3.5% 18.4% said that the police have helped to protect them or their family. 18.4% 3.8% admitted having been involved in anti-social behaviour (e.g. acting in a way that could cause harassment, alarm or distress to others). 3.8% A relatively high proportion (5.7%) consider themselves to have a long- term illness or disability. 5.7% 4.3% state that English is their second language. 4.3% 3.1% have truanted from school. 3.1% Comments suggest that this is primarily related to the introduction of Campus Cops in many schools or as a result of educational work being done by police officers in schools and youth groups. Have you been talked to or approached by a police officer in the last 12 months (n=1885) NoYes Only a few respondents (7%) have been talked to or approached by the police regularly in the last 12 months. (n=427) Only once Sometimes Regularly 47%46% 7% Most cited positive reasons such as police giving talks in schools and youth clubs. Only 2.2% of all participants have been stopped and searched by the police. The following identified the number of respondents selecting each answer. To ask for your opinion (e.g. aboutproblems in the area) Because they know you Because I contacted them To ask you about anti social behaviouror a crime Stopped you in the street Don’t know Tell you off or ask you to move on To stop and search you 82 81 80 75 66 54 48 43 SUMMARY Positive Attitudes • The majority of young people in Scotland hold positive attitudes about the police. • Attitudes are most positive at the age of 12. • The majority of young people that have had contact with the police are satisfied with how they were dealt with. Exceptions • Those with previous experience of crime and anti-social behaviour are significantly more likely to hold negative attitudes towards the police; • are more likely to have been approached or talked to, asked about crime & anti-social behaviour and have been stopped & searched by the police; and • are more likely to be unsatisfied with how they were dealt with. • Attitudes become less positive as young people get older. CONCLUSION Possible action for the Police Scotland Youth Advisory Panel (PSYAP) include: • Conducting more focussed research on those with previous experience of anti-social behaviour and crime. • Exploring potential to develop initiatives that seek to improve relationships with the police in crime ‘hot-spot’ areas and to develop ways to maintain positive attitudes held at a younger age. • Given the difference between those with previous experience of crime and anti-social behaviour to those that have never been in trouble with the police there is merit in forming a PSYAP consultation sub-group made up entirely of those in the former category, to give informed input to PSYAP (Police Scotland Youth Advisory Panel). 73% 81% ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE POLICE Examples of attitudes towards the police Comparing attitudes of those with and without previous involvement with the police Similar responses emerge in response to the statement Police would treat you fairly if they stopped and searched youThe majority of those previously involved in anti-social behaviour and crime disagree or strongly disagree that the police understand young people’s problems in the area. (Difference of 40.5% to 42.5%) 95% confidence level p=0.05 Those previously involved in anti-social behaviour and crime are significantly more likely to disagree/strongly disagree with the statement. (Difference of 26.5% to 33.6%) 95% confidence level p=0.05 Categories of involvement I have been involved in anti-social behaviour (37 respondents) I havecommitted a crime (34 respondents) I have neverbeen in any trouble with the police (212 respondents) 57% 55.5% 15% % selecting‘Disagree/Strongly Disagree’ Categories of involvement I have been involved in anti-social behaviour (37 respondents) I havecommitted a crime (34 respondents) I have neverbeen in any trouble with the police (212 respondents) 45.6% 38.5% 12% % selecting‘Disagree/Strongly Disagree’ POSITIVES NEGATIVES Police will help you if you need them Police are helpful and friendly to young people Police would treat you fairly if they stopped and searched you Police understand young people’s problems in the area Police treat each race and religion fairly Police deal with things that matter to local young people Police treat young people the same as adults 4.08 3.80 3.79 3.53 3.49 3.43 2.99 Attitudes towards the police are at their most positive at the age of 12 and generally decline with age Attitudes towards the police are mainly positive with most respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statements below. How much do you agree with the following? (n=1,909) Average (1=Strongly Disagree and 5=Strongly Agree) • Overall police help in all situations no matter what. • I think police do as much as they can to support young people throughout their local area but maybe more programmes like this should be started to encourage more people to give their views on the matter. • The communication between police and young people should be worked on to create positive relationships. They should not only speak to young people when it’s something bad. • I am part of the Travelling community and the Police talk to me like trash. • They wonder why teenagers say they hate the police when they are only nice when they want a statement for you to be a witness. Yeah police are helpful but they need to have more respect for others around them and not act big with their uniforms on. • I have to say not much is being done to tackle the issues that young people face no matter the religion or race. Police will help you if you need them Police understand young people’s problems in the area Police would treat you fairly if they stopped and searched you 12 (663) 25% 24% 52% 16 (164) 13% 7% 33% 20+ (91) 10% 5.5% 19% There are very few differences between girls and boys Overall there are high satisfaction levels with police handling Very few young people have any regular contact with the police Of those that have had contact with the police in the last year, the vast majority have been talked to or approached only once or sometimes. Feedback indicates this is usually as a result of positive contact in school or as a result of reporting an incident. Girls were more likely than boys to have seen police officers ‘often’ in school (22%: 18%). Girls were slightly less likely than boys to have seen police officers on foot (21%: 23%). There is very little, if any difference in the reason girls and boys are talked to or approached by the police. Overall there are high satisfaction levels with police handling The majority (64%) of young people that have had contact with police in the previous year are very satisfied or satisfied with the way they were dealt with. Gender Males (180) Females (353) 15% 8% 19% 24% 12% 12% Tell you off or ask you to move on Because you contacted them To stop & search you 30.1% 33.9% 20.7% 8.5% 6.8% Very satisfied Satisfied Neither satisfied or unsatisfied Unsatisfied Very unsatisfied Some feedback • It was just a brief social interaction of minimal consequence, but they were very friendly and seemed to be in control of the immediate area. • I was scared stiff I would get into trouble but after talking to them and my Mum I realised they were actually helping. • The officers I dealt with during a really difficult time of life were very supportive. • They could treat us with more respect and not be patronising. • They were very rude and breached my rights as a child. • When I ask for help they always jump to bigger conclusions and treat things that are minor as if they are serious. • I felt I wasn’t updated at all on anything, which wasn’t helping my mental state. POSITIVES NEGATIVES 95 % confidence level p=0.05 95 % confidence level p=0.05 However ... Those with previous involvement in anti-social behaviour or crime are significantly more likely to have had regular contact with the police. (Difference of 16.75% to 17.75%) Yet ... Those with previous involvement in anti-social behaviour or crime were significantly more likely to be unsatisfied or very unsatisfied with how they were handled by the police. (Difference of 15.4% to 18.4%) 24% 76% Of those that answered yes SUMMARY OF KEY DIFFERENCES Comparison of respondents with and without previous involvement with the police 38% 38% 38% 35% 41% 29% 24% 5.9% 2.9% 44% Tell you off or ask youto move on To ask you about anti-social behaviour or a crime Stopped you in the street To stop and search you Because you contacted them Percentage of Aggregated Responses 4% 18% 12% 7% 28% I have committed a crime I have never been in any trouble with the police I have been involved in anti-social behaviour Relationships vary according to young people’s involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour Those with previous involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour are significantly more likely to have been told off or asked to move on. (Difference of 34%) Similarly… Those with previous involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour are significantly more likely to have been asked by the police about anti-social behaviour or crime. (Difference of 20% to 26%) Likewise… Those with previous involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour are significantly more likely to be stopped and searched or stopped in the street. (Difference of 17.4% to 22.4% and 23.4% to 29.4% respectively) By contrast… Those with previous involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour are significantly less likely to have initiated their contact with police. (Difference of 22% to 25%) 95 % confidence level p=0.05 95 % confidence level p=0.05 AGGREGATED RESPONSES COMPARING THOSE WITH OR WITHOUT PREVIOUS INVOLVEMENT WITH THE POLICE Aggregated results at age 12, 16 and 20+ Research conducted by Catch the Light in partnership with Young Scot and designed by LOTI Creative.