Identifying unsupported children and young people via police contact: a retrospective cross-sectional observational...

Children and young people (CYP) who come into contact with the police often experience multiple vulnerabilities, including exploitation risk, school disengagement, and social exclusion. Early intervention and cross-agency coordination are central to mitigating these risks, yet many CYP remain unallocated to statutory systems. This study explored whether initial police contact could serve as a practical identification point for CYP aged 10-15 not currently supported by statutory services, and to describe cohort characteristics across five Thames Valley Local Authority (LA) areas.

A retrospective cross-sectional observational study using linked administrative police and Local Authority data.

CYP were screened for recent police contact and categorised according to statutory service involvement (Children's Social Care [CSC], Youth Justice [YJ]), Other/Unknown, Not eligible, or Eligible (unsupported).

Two hundred CYP were sought, 80 were identified, 65% were open to CSC and 24% to YJ services, with only 14% meeting criteria as unallocated and unsupported. Police contact primarily identified CYP already known to statutory services. Compared to national figures (3% CSC; 0.8% YJ), this cohort was disproportionately high-risk and over-represented in statutory systems.

Police data alone have limited reach for identifying unsupported CYP. In this small, multi-site feasibility sample, multi-agency early-identification strategies should combine police information with upstream indicators such as school engagement and family stress. Embedding early intervention within educational and community settings could improve reach and prevent escalation to statutory thresholds.