The results of the Stop and Think Report were supported by an
independent study produced for the Commission, Differential
treatment in the youth justice system. It examined how much
control was influenced by the police on the ethnic composition
of young people entering the youth justice system. The
researchers found that black and ethnic minority youths were
over-represented in the criminal justice system. This over-
representation started at the point of entry into the system,
and largely continued as young suspects and defendants passed
through it. The report that an adversarial style of policing
risks creating animosity and distrust towards the police,
especially amongst youths from ethnic minorities. It says that
when police forces adopt a professional ‘rule of law’ approach,
the result is fewer arrests of black and mixed race youths and
improved relationships with their community. Researchers found
that officers were also more likely to give white youths more
lenient reprimands or fines, while black and m