POLICE strategy is set to be reviewed after a concerted call for officers to be more approachable to the under-25s.

It was made during the largest-ever study carried out into young people’s opinions of policing in North Yorkshire.

The study found that young people want officers to be more consistent in the way they interact with them - and for police not to judge on the basis of their age or appearance.

The project was carried out by a county-wide Youth Commission funded by the county’s police and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan and made up of 30 volunteers aged 14 to 25

That commission carried out a “Big Conversation” comprising consultation events at colleges, youth clubs and other venues across the county to gather the views of more than 1,500 young people.

Their interim report will be presented to police, youth workers and others at an event in York next week.

Twenty-three-year-old Hannah Ward led the commission’s work on relationships with the police and said the report reflected what young people had told them.

“For many young people, it was important that police took a friendlier approach,” she said.

“They felt they wanted officers to interact with them in a more relaxed way and not just when they were issuing warnings.

“They also felt there was a tendency to be judged by their appearance which was something they wanted to change.”

Mrs Mulligan said: "I instigated the Youth Commission because it was clear from my work in drawing up the Police and Crime Plan that the views of children and young people were not being heard as they should be.

“It is a first in North Yorkshire. Never before have we heard the views of over 1,500 young people in relation to policing and personal safety.

“As a consequence, North Yorkshire Police's strategy for young people will be reviewed and updated.”

She added: “The report also comes at a very pertinent time, when we are preparing to increase the money dedicated to protecting children and vulnerable people.

“This means the police will have more resources available to act on the recommendations made by the commission. I fully expect them to do so.”

Also among the recommendations is working more closely with door staff to reduce drug taking in clubs and increasing police presence in schools.