Police in England and Wales recorded 812,449 uses of force in 2025.
About 11% involved children aged 11–17 — roughly 87,000 incidents in a single year.
Nearly 1,000 incidents involved children under 11.

My child is one of them, with SEN needs my 11 year old was recently restrained by multiple police officers when his main stream school was unable to support him to regulate. 

Since that incident, access to basic information about what happened has been declined by the force. I have not been told how force was used, why it was considered necessary, what de-escalation techniques were attempted, or how decisions were made, despite multiple officers being involved. This has been ongoing foe 5 months now.

Being denied information has left me unable to support him properly through the aftermath. This experience has resulted in ongoing anxiety and trauma responses for my child, including a persistent fear of being restrained again. T

Not only has my child been affected, but I have been deeply affected as well. As a parent, the trauma of not knowing what happened to my own child, being given conflicting information, and being denied clear explanations has been overwhelming. P

arents have a fundamental right to understand what has happened to their children, particularly when force is used. The lack of transparency amplified distress and prevented me from helping my child recover.

Instead of reducing harm, the response escalated fear and trauma. What is often described as “best practice” should not be optional — when children and disabilities are involved, it should be the minimum standard.

What I am asking for is both necessary and achievable. Police officers should receive mandatory trauma-informed training specifically focused on disabled children. This training would better equip officers to recognise vulnerability, prioritise de-escalation, and make proportionate, informed decisions in high-pressure situations, including tailored approaches where individual needs are known.

There must also be clear and consistent protocols for recording restraint incidents and for communicating openly with parents or guardians. Transparent, accurate recording and communication allow families to understand what happened, why it happened, and how a child’s needs were considered. This is not just procedural — it is essential for safeguarding, trust, recovery, and learning.

I want to prevent other children and families from experiencing avoidable trauma, especially those with additional needs in schools and community settings where support may already be stretched. These children often grow into adults who still need understanding, support, and safe responses from authorities.

Key Policy Gaps 
1. No national standard for recording restraint on children
Police must complete Use of Force forms, but:

they do not have to record duration of restraint
they do not have to record the exact restraint position
they do not always record which officer held the child

 
2. No mandatory explanation to parents
There is no national requirement for police to:

explain restraint to parents
provide a debrief
provide safeguarding guidance
advise medical checks.
Many forces treat it as “best practice” rather than a requirement.

SAR requests from experience are blocked, and complaints and investigations not taken seriously from a parent or child's perspective.

 
3. Recording standards differ from schools
In education settings:

Staff must record:

duration of restraint
who restrained the child
body position
injuries
attempts to de-escalate.

Police recording standards are often less detailed - may not be disclosed - so an understanding for parent, carers and child are not available leaving trauma unprocessed - especially when a child is unable to communicate.

We need to protect our most vulnerable and build a trustworthy, safe, and effective relationship between police and families — particularly for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Trauma-informed practice, disability awareness, accurate recording, and meaningful communication with families must be the minimum standard, not optional extras.

Please sign and share this petition to support mandatory trauma-informed training for police, clear recording of restraint incidents, and meaningful communication with parents, carers, and guardians.