This study was commissioned in 2015 by Young Scot to explore the perceptions young people have of the police in Scotland. The research was conducted by Catch the Light. Infographic is designed by LOTI Creative

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.