Guidance

Home Office Young Persons report

Published 17 July 2025

Consultation report March 2025

Overview

The purpose of this consultation was to work in partnership with the Home Office to understand young people’s views on data held on policing systems and the awareness of their rights when it comes to this subject matter. In building the Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS) the programme wanted to identify and mitigate impacts of capturing and using children’s data as a special category of data that might need greater protection.

The Home Office has undertaken a Childs Rights Impact Assessment on the new system and below is the summary of their consultation with young people to identify what they know and understand about their data rights.

Approach to consultation

The consultation took the form of four stages:

1. The initial focus group meeting with the Hope Collective Youth Management Group (YMG) to explore the issue and agree what the key learning questions needed to be;

2. The YMG created a survey they could share with their peers / networks with a target of 100 responses;

3. The survey was promoted through various networks to ensure a wider cohort of young people’s experiences were captured; and

4. The Home Office and young people attended a roundtable to share and discuss the findings in more detail.

Survey Findings

The survey received 80 responses and aimed to assess young people’s awareness and understanding of police and law enforcement data practices. The questions within it focused on their knowledge of personal data collection, retention, access by other agencies and their rights under data protection law. The findings below provide valuable insights into the levels of awareness among different demographic groups, highlighting key gaps in knowledge and areas for potential improvement.

Survey Response Demographics

Total respondents: 80

Given the time frame that the survey was open for, the group felt that 80 responses was good but with more time, we may have seen a shift in those who responded.

Gender distribution:

• Female: 74% (n = 59)
• Male: 24% (n = 19)
• Other: 3% (n = 2)

Interesting to note that more people who identify as female took part in the survey.

Ethnicity: equal representation from White British or other White ethnicity, Black/African/Caribbean/Black British and Asian/Asian British backgrounds.

Interesting to note that there was equal representation across the above ethnicities.

Disability: 18% of respondents reported having a disability.

Challenge here is the lack of data about what types of disabilities those completing the survey have.

Current status:

• 76% in full-time education
• 11% working full-time
• 5% working part-time
• 3% unemployed
• 4% other

The majority of respondents are in full-time education.

Contact With Police And Law Enforcement

Overall contact: 35% (n = 28) of respondents had been in contact with the police or law enforcement, while 65% (n = 52) had not.

Gender differences:

• 25% of female respondents had contact; and
• 58% of male respondents had contact.

Age:

• The majority of those who had contact were over 16 years old (57% aged 16–28; 21% aged 19–25).

Ethnicity:

• Asian/Asian British respondents were the most likely to have had contact (41%), followed by White British or other White ethnicity (35%).

Important to note here that we do not know what ‘contact’ has been had with the police or law enforcement and that as the results here are based on a larger proportion of those who identify as female.

Awareness Of Police And Law Enforcement Data Practices

Knowledge of personal data collection:

• 15% (n = 12) were aware of what personal data might be collected if they had contact with the police; and

• 85% had no awareness.

• Understanding of data access by other agencies:

• 45% (n = 36) knew that policing data could be accessed by other agencies, such as Borders and Immigration.

• Knowledge of data retention:

  • Only 8% (n = 6) had an idea of how long their data might be held but their responses indicated uncertainty (e.g. ‘till you’re 100 years old’; ‘guess is 5-10 years but I don’t know’; ‘6 months?’).

Awareness of data rights under data protection law:

• 10% (n = 8) had some understanding of their data rights.

Awareness of where to seek information and advice:

• 11% (n = 9) knew where to find relevant information.

  • Large percentage of young people do not know what personal data may be collected or how long their data may be held for. Interestingly 45% are aware that their data may be accessed by other agencies. Important to note on the awareness question that we do not know which websites they are accessing to get their information. In the roundtable discussion it was interesting to note that the differing levels of knowledge awareness was dependant on where young people were based geographically.

Impact Of Contact With Police On Knowledge

Slightly increased awareness:

• Young people who had contact with the police were slightly more likely to know:

  • What personal data might be collected (25% vs. 10%); and
  • Where to find information about their data rights (18% vs. 8%).

• Minimal impact on broader understanding:

  • Awareness that data could be shared with other agencies was similar for those with and without contact (46% vs. 44%);
  • Understanding of data rights remained low (11% vs. 10%); and
  • Knowledge of data retention duration was similarly limited (11% vs. 6%).

Ethnicity And Knowledge

• Due to small sample sizes, comparative analysis across all ethnic groups was not fully reported; and
• The findings suggest that knowledge gaps persist across all groups, with no particular ethnic group displaying significantly higher awareness of data rights.

Key Findings & Implications

1. Widespread lack of understanding:

• Despite some respondents having direct contact with police or law enforcement, most had limited awareness of data collection, retention and access rights. This highlights a need for clearer communication during interactions with law enforcement.

2. Urgent need for accessible information:

• Nearly 90% of young people do not know where to find information about their data rights; and

• There is a risk that those searching online may encounter misleading or incorrect information.

3. Potential for systemic change:

• Law enforcement could consider providing more accessible and proactive information during encounters with young people; and

• Initiatives such as educational outreach, digital resources and clearer guidance on data rights could improve awareness.

Recommendations From The Consultation

• Explore ways to integrate clearer, more transparent communication about personal data and rights into police and law enforcement interactions;
• Develop targeted resources to improve awareness of data retention policies and access rights; and
• Consider partnerships with educational institutions or youth organisations to increase awareness of data rights and policing practices.

This consultation highlighted the urgent need for improvements in communication and transparency to ensure that young people are fully informed about their rights in interactions with law enforcement. As a by-product of this piece of work, #iwill Ambassadors from Scotland are organising and information session for their peers to promote their rights and recommended sources for more information and guidance about this issue.