Civic participation and youth voice
IOPC Youth Panel National Survey Report
IOPC / Leaders Unlocked · 2022
About this report
This youth-led national survey gathered views from 1,957 young people aged 13–25 across England and Wales on their experiences of policing and the police complaints system. It found that while most young people (70%) trust their local police to some degree, 37% said their trust had declined over the past year, largely due to high-profile misconduct cases. Young people expressed low confidence that complaints would make a difference (83%), widespread ignorance of how to complain, and a strong desire for a truly independent complaints channel. The report sets out practical recommendations for policing and the IOPC on rebuilding trust, improving complaints accessibility, and better recognising the needs of young people — particularly young Black women and those with mental health or neurodivergent needs.
Research details
- Methodology
- SurveyMixed methods
- Sample size
- 1,957
- Sample
- Young people aged 13–25 across England and Wales, including 18% Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic; 27% LGBTQ+; 28% with physical or hidden disabilities; 5% with lived experience of the criminal justice system; 4% with lived experience of the care system.
- Place
- EnglandWales
- Youth involvement
- Youth-led