Crimes Affecting Older and Younger People
Policing activities can have a particular impact on both younger and older people in our communities. Older people may have a greater fear of crime, or be particularly vulnerable to certain types of criminal activity including doorstep crime, distraction burglary and elder abuse.
Younger people are disproportionately impacted upon through the use of stop and search, and policing activities relating to anti-social behaviour, and there are particular issues that may affect younger people that are difficult to recognise or that go unreported, like the sexual exploitation of children. Young people may also have negative view of the police, making them less likely to report incidents or to engage with the police.
Other factors, such as ethnicity, also have an impact on how likely young people are to become involved in the criminal justice system.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has a Children and Young People's Strategy which pledges to:
- Engage and listen to the voices of children and young people in shaping our services.
- Increase confidence and satisfaction in the police service amongst children and young people.
- Reduce crime and disorder in which children and young people are victims, witnesses or offenders.
- Reduce the unnecessary criminalisation of children and young people through using effective enforcement when justified, necessary and proportionate.
- Actively engage with partners in providing a co-ordinated and comprehensive approach to delivering services for all children and young people
Key Facts:
- Population estimates indicate that people aged 50 or over in Wales account for 37% of the population (Mid Year Population Estimates 2007)
- The majority of the victims in alleged cases of elder abuse are older people, aged 65 or over, or people with learning disabilities (Age Cymru)
- A study by Age Cymru revealed that 19% of adults in Wales report having had personal experience of a situation where an older person has been abused, mistreated or neglected
- The majority of the victims in alleged cases of elder abuse are older people, aged 65 or
- Older people are less likely to have confidence in the criminal justice system; whilst around 51% of people aged 16-44 believe the criminal justice system is effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice, the number aged 65 or over who believe this is approximately 38% (Age Cymru)
- Only 27% of over 65s believe that the criminal justice system is able to meet their needs (Age Cymru)
- During 2010/11 Gwent Police recorded 21701 incidents as 'youth related', the majority of which related to anti-social behaviour
- Results from the 2010/11 British Crime Survey reveal that a higher proportion of 10 to 15 year olds were victims of violent crime than adults
- Negative encounters with the police can have up to 14 times the impact on young people than on adults (ACPO Children and Young People Strategy)
Useful Links:
EHRC Report into differential treatment in the Youth Justice System
ACPO Children and Young People Strategy
Age Cymru - Key Facts and Statistics
Out of Sight, Out of Mind - CEOP thematic report into Child Sexual Exploitation
