In their essay “Out of Touch—a Youth Perspective,” Waterton
and Sesay point out that the economic decline has hit vulnerable populations
like young people the hardest. With few job prospects, expensive housing, and a
huge rise in university fees, “young people are wondering what the future has
in store for them.” And rightly so!
Coupled with a rise in aggressive policing, young people are put in an impossible position. The article points out that only 10% of stop and searches lead to an arrest. And even more shocking, only .3% of the stop and searches under Article 60’s “exceptional” and “suspicionless” stop and search powers lead to an arrest.
Young people are feeling the pressure from both sides. With no opportunities to reach towards and no firm ground to stand on, it’s no wonder that police are feeling resistance from youth. The authors query why no one has asked young people what they want or need? They make it sound pretty simple: young people want to be able to walk the streets, to be protected by the police, and to be treated fairly in the justice system.
That’s not too much to ask for is it?