AYJ Response: College of Policing consultation on the updated Authorised Professional Practice for Stop and Search
The Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ) has submitted a response to the College of Policing’s consultation on the updated Authorised Professional Practice (APP) for Stop and Search.
Drawing on the expertise and lived‑experience insight of our diverse membership, our response raises serious concerns about the continued harm children experience during stop and search encounters and the lack of clear, child‑specific safeguards in the draft guidance. We highlight that stop and search is a coercive power with well‑documented psychological, racial and trust‑related impacts on children, and argue that it must only ever be used as a genuine last resort.
Our submission calls for meaningful co‑production with children; explicit recognition of children’s inherent vulnerability; stronger safeguarding duties; clearer operational direction for officers on pausing, discontinuing or avoiding searches; and robust accountability mechanisms for senior leaders, supervisors and scrutiny panels.
We also urge the College to require child‑friendly versions of the APP, improved training, and practical guidance to prevent repeat, disproportionate or harmful encounters. AYJ will continue working with partners to ensure the final APP strengthens protections for children and drives real change in policing practice.