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"Our children have lived through unprecedented times in recent years making their lives more complex with unique challenges. In parallel a legacy of austerity has seen the children’s workforce reduce and demand for support couldn’t be higher.
"All areas of policing have the potential to touch children’s lives. Our priorities are to see the child, advocate for the child and share the voice of the child. We must ensure we understanding the impact of every interaction we have, and being professionally curious to deliver a service which protects the vulnerable and is child centred at its heart.
"Childhood is a fundamental and unique time of life to learn and develop. We will come across young people who have pushed the boundaries too far or who got it very wrong. In these moments we need to consider what’s right for the child, what’s right for the victim and the community. Restorative work and diversionary practice give the child an opportunity to receive support and learn from mistakes. Victims feel heard and the wider community benefits.
"In Sussex we will continue with our child centred mandate and look to engage young people and create better relationships and understanding with them."
- Chief Superintendent Katy Woolford, Equality Champion for Children and Young People
We have identified four key priorities for Sussex Police in delivering a policing service to Children and Young People. They are:
We are proud to announce the launch of Sussex Police’s new Children and Young Persons’ strategy 2025-2028. It sets out our unwavering commitment to protect children from harm.
The strategy reflects our commitment to embedding child-centred policing at the heart of every interaction with a child or young person.
Under 'Working Together 2023', the statutory multi-agency guidance on safeguarding best practice, our Chief Constable is one of the county's lead safeguarding partners.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: "How we respond to and work with children now will have a profound effect on how they view and interact with policing far into the future. We know that children and young people face unique challenges, and it's our job to protect them and keep them safe. To do this, we will train and equip our officers to:
"Every interaction with a child or young person is an opportunity to make a positive difference. From our contact handlers to attending officers, investigators and partners, we will approach every situation with curiosity, care, and professionalism."