“Policing at the speed of trust”: Interacting with trauma-impacted youth

This article is directly related to the first global Trauma Informed Policing and Law Enforcement Conference held in Melbourne, Australia in February 2024.

Abstract

Young people living on the fringes of society face heightened vulnerability and trauma that profoundly impact their ability to trust others. When trauma-impacted youth, such as those exposed to pervasive racism or with refugee backgrounds, have faced unfair treatment by authorities in the past, they often develop a deep distrust towards law enforcement officers. Consequently, interactions with police can become fraught with fear and aggression as past experiences of injustice resurface, triggering defensive and adverse reactions. Bearing these dynamics in mind, the article underscores that socially just policing requires a commitment to trauma-responsive engagement that nurtures trust by prioritizing safe interactional environments based on tactfulness and co-regulation. Trustful engagement prevents re-traumatization, promotes effective communication and addresses disparities in policing outcomes.