Developing a youth focused service-hub alternative to the police station: a stakeholder Policy Lab

The overlap between emergent mental ill-health, offending behaviour and experiences of crime among young people necessitates consideration of more supportive responses than traditional policing practices and environments. The ‘service-hub’ alternative to the police station is a promising policy and service system option. There is an opportunity when the level of offending is minor and young people have not had previous contact with police to be offered access to psychosocial support without having to attend the police station. This study sought to understand stakeholder perspectives regarding the conditions needed to pilot a youth focused service-hub alternative to the police station in Melbourne, Australia. A Policy Lab method, involving a diverse range of stakeholders (n = 19), including four young people, identified barriers and enablers for piloting a service-hub model. Participants considered the available policy instruments for addressing two barriers (1) a lack of cultural and trauma training and awareness and (2) challenges to service collaboration. There was broad consensus on the need to co-design the service-hub to facilitate buy-in from community and young people. We conclude that an acceptability and feasibility study that is culturally informed and co-designed with young people, community and services is required prior to piloting a service-hub model.