The Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN) is calling for a better relationship between the police and young men.

The youth-led leadership and advocacy body called for a positive step in policing during celebration of International Youth Day at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus, on Wednesday.

Anna-Kaye Rowe, project coordinator with JYAN, suggested that the police should be more professional in their approach and conversation with youths.

"The police should avoid discrimination based on the dress and appearance under the guise of profiling."

Improper policing

Several of the youths who gathered at the meeting shared personal experiences of what they see as "improper policing".

Richard, a JYAN member who hails from an inner-city community felt that once the police hear that a youth is from the inner city, a different approach is taken.

"Is like you have different police dem sen'. Once they hear seh a ghetto, dem a guh sen' a shotta cop who nuh fraid fi lick first and ask question later."

Another youth, Everal, said his encounters with the police were very frequent.

"Once you live innna the ghetto and a boy and over 12, you are going to get search. A so it set. Mi tired fi get search on mi way from school."

Embarrassment

While he accepts this is part of the police doing their job, the humiliation that takes place sometimes is another matter.

Everal recalled a situation that once occurred when he was stopped by the police.

"As dem si mi, dem ask fi search, kick apart mi foot, mi nearly drop pon mi face. After him search mi, him say give 'mi some push up'. Mi have to drop and give him some push up. All the time he was there laughing."

Rowe, in her call for cooperation from the police, also wants youths to show respect to the police.

"When they approach, stop and ask for a search, whether the police are professional or not, I encourage youths to stay away from friends and activities that will attract suspicion from the police."