Why Young Londoners Don't Trust the Police and What Needs to Change

For many young Londoners, feeling safe in their communities is closely tied to whether they feel listened to and respected by the adults and systems around them. Policing plays a significant role in that picture. but across our work with young Londoners, we continue to hear that trust in the police is far from guaranteed and that their experiences don't always match the intention of keeping them safe.

As a charity that supports young Londoners who have experienced violence, exploitation and serious harm, our role is to advocate for young Londoners and ensure their voices are heard and acted on. Recent findings from the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee's Neighbourhood Policing: The Experience of Young Londoners report - in which we and the young Londoners we support were referenced - echo what we hear every day: too many young Londoners do not see the police as a place of safety.

How young Londoners experience policing

Young Londoners often tell us that support from the police can feel out of reach. Several shared that it can seem like something “really bad” has to happen before they receive help. Instead of viewing police as a protective presence, some described feeling intimidated by patrols in their local area. One young Londoner told us that seeing police in their neighbourhood created a sense of fear rather than reassurance.

There is also a clear perception among some young Londoners that experiences differ depending on background. One participant spoke about a belief that those from racial minoritised communities are more likely to fear the police, and that rebuilding trust would require sustained, long-term work rather than one-off engagement.

These insights really matter. When young Londoners feel wary of those who are meant to protect them, it can affect whether they report concerns, seek help, or feel able to live safely in their communities.

Feeling treated as suspects, not children

Our Director of Practice, Carly Adams-Elias, has spoken about how everyday interactions shape young Londoner’s sense of trust. She explains:

“Some of the ways that young people feel that they are treated as suspects and not believed is the way that they are spoken to, the language that is used around them, the level of communication that they get from the police or that they do not get from the police. Often it is a lack of communication. They are not kept involved or informed with what is going on, therefore they feel often quite out of the picture, and they do not feel cared for in that respect.”

Communication, or the absence of it, is a recurring theme. Young Londoners want to be kept informed, spoken to respectfully, and recognised as individuals with needs and rights, not just as potential suspects or sources of information.

Carly also highlights a broader concern about how young Londoners are approached within systems:

“Rather than thinking about, ‘What has happened to this child, what does this child need, how can we help this child?’ they [the Met] are thinking, ‘What crime has been committed? How am I going to follow the processes that I need to prove that?”

When processes and enforcement are prioritised over understanding a young Londoner’s context and needs, it can deepen feelings of mistrust and disconnection.

The impact on safety and reporting

These experiences have real consequences. If young Londoners don’t feel believed, respected or safe when interacting with the police, they may be less likely to report crimes, share concerns or seek support. This can leave them more vulnerable and further from the help they need.

The recent Police and Crime Committee report reinforces that building trust with young Londoners requires more than visibility or enforcement. It requires consistent, respectful engagement and a willingness to listen to young Londoner’s perspectives, especially when those perspectives are critical.

What needs to change

Young Londoners tell us they want:

To be treated as individuals first, not suspects

Clear and respectful communication

To be kept informed when they are involved in cases

Police who understand their communities and experiences

Opportunities to share their views and shape local approaches

Encouragingly there is growing recognition – including within the Metropolitan Police – that improving relationships with young Londoners must be a priority. But change will take time, consistency and meaningful collaboration with young Londoners themselves.

Young Londoners are experts in their own experiences of safety. When we listen to them, we gain insight into what is working, what isn’t, and what needs to change.

At Safer London, we will continue to advocate for young Londoner’s voices to be heard, not only in reports but in practice.

We work closely with young Londoners to ensure their voices inform practice and decision-making, and we’re always keen to collaborate with partners who share that commitment.

If you’re an organisation interested in hearing directly from young Londoners about the issues that affect their lives we’d love to connect.

Get in touch