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Posted On: July 16th 2026, 09:37 pm
During the select committee hearing into youth justice, I was asked a question about reform, policing, and how we ensure community safety when police may not be the safest or most appropriate people to respond.
What could a world built around alternatives look like? Who might those alternatives be?
The Select Committee inquiry into youth justice raised many powerful and necessary questions. I emphasised the need for trauma-informed care, and for ensuring that the right people respond to the right needs at the right time.
This means investing in community led, culturally safe, therapeutic responses that address underlying harm, distress, disability, trauma, and unmet support needs rather than defaulting to punitive systems.
For example, if someone is having mental health episodes or crises, it’s crucial to ensure the right mental health team and support is present, to coordinate a smart response and send the correct people for the need.
For many cases where alleged crimes exists involving young people, there is often severe trauma disassociation, and / or impacted by child removal, absence of connection, or mental health episodes taking place. The right respondents matter, and it would be great to see alternative approaches addressed.
What could a world built around alternatives look like? Who might those alternatives be?
The Select Committee inquiry into youth justice raised many powerful and necessary questions. I emphasised the need for trauma-informed care, and for ensuring that the right people respond to the right needs at the right time.
This means investing in community led, culturally safe, therapeutic responses that address underlying harm, distress, disability, trauma, and unmet support needs rather than defaulting to punitive systems.
For example, if someone is having mental health episodes or crises, it’s crucial to ensure the right mental health team and support is present, to coordinate a smart response and send the correct people for the need.
For many cases where alleged crimes exists involving young people, there is often severe trauma disassociation, and / or impacted by child removal, absence of connection, or mental health episodes taking place. The right respondents matter, and it would be great to see alternative approaches addressed.
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