Abstract
The mini-police is an innovative police engagement programme that is aimed at children aged 8-11 years in England and Wales. This article examines the perspectives of children that have participated in the mini-police programme filling a significant gap within the literature. Children’s voices were captured through a national online survey completed by 248 children that had been in the mini-police and 102 children that had not and 8 child-friendly creative workshops were held in four forces involving 56 children. The article suggests that participation in this programme can increase children’s understanding of what the police do, their trust in the police and their desire to help others. Additionally, findings suggested that other positive impacts of participation include an increased self-identity, confidence, and sense of safety. This article argues that engaging younger children in programmes such as these can help to promote and support positive life course trajectories.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice |
| Volume | 19 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 11 May 2025 |
Data Access Statement
Due to ethical/commercial issues, data underpinning this publication cannot be made openly available. Further information about the data and conditions for access are available from the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice, University of Northampton, at [email protected].Keywords
- Mini police
- children
- identity
- engagement
- belonging
