Lancashire teamed up with four other Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) areas for the first National Hope Hack focused on reshaping community policing. The event, orchestrated by the Hope Collective and the Damilola Taylor Trust, provided a platform for young people to voice their ideas and concerns about policing.
The event saw around 80 young people come together at The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, to have meaningful conversations on how to enhance safety and trust within their communities.
Young people from Lancashire, Manchester, London, Leicestershire and the West Midlands attended the event to provide a broad spectrum of perspectives and solutions. The event was an opportunity to engage in discussions and share experiences, providing invaluable insights into the realities of community policing.
Throughout the day, the event featured an array of motivational talks and performances including Jermain Jackman, Patrick Hutchinson, Strizzy Strauss, Ardey and Dede, LVT and Nathan Parker. These speakers and performers not only entertained, but also inspired the audience, highlighting the power of youth voice in driving change.
One of the central themes that emerged from the day was the critical need for mutual trust between the police and the communities they serve. Young participants emphasised that trust must be a two-way street, built on genuine understanding and respect.
Key proposals included:
- Enhanced Community Engagement: Police officers should spend more time out of uniform, engaging with communities personally to build rapport.
- Reformed Stop and Search Practices: There is a need for better understanding and fairness in stop and search procedures, including an emphasis on officers conduct during the search including how they talk to the individual being stopped and how well the reasons are explained.
- Practical Training for Officers: Trainee officers should spend less time on online learning and more time in the field, getting to know the communities they serve.
Susannah Clarke, Director of the Lancashire VRN, expressed her delight that Lancashire VRN and some of our young people were able to be involved in the event. “The insights and passion from young people has once again inspired us all. The challenges faced by Lancashire are echoed across the country, making it crucial for us to work together. By uniting, we can harness the strength of our youth to create safer, more trusting communities nationwide.”
The insights and feedback from Hope Hacks are being compiled into a report titled ‘Reimagined’, to be published later this year by the Hope Collective, outlining a vision for safer communities that prioritises youth engagement and long-term solutions.
