NI teens give opinions on police

Research indicates young people are more likely to be threatened

Young people in Northern Ireland are to give their views on how to improve the police and justice system.

The two-day Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Youth Justice Conference is taking place in Northern Ireland for the first time.

International delegates will discuss ways to improve the criminal justice system's engagement with young people.

Research indicates that young people are more likely to be victims of crime, especially threats or assaults.

The conference brings together those who work with young people, including police officers, youth offending teams, local authorities, magistrates, probation officers and social workers.

Drama

Representatives from the community and voluntary sectors are also taking part.

The conference will examine public perceptions about crime and how their interactions with criminal justice agencies can be improved.

Actors from the Youth Action Northern Ireland's Rainbow Factory will perform a number of dramatisations of various scenarios.

ACPO Youth Issues Group chairman, Essex Deputy Chief Constable Charles Clark, said young people were significantly involved in the criminal justice system, "both as victims and offenders".

PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton, who will open the conference, said: "No-one has all the answers to the problems which we face in this challenging area, but ideas and exchanges nurtured in Belfast will hopefully assist practitioners in Northern Ireland and beyond to provide some of the solutions."