A lot of young people don’t think or believe that they get enough respect from adults and people in authority, like the Police, teachers or parents. In some cases this can be true, but not with everyone. Respect goes both ways however. In order to get respect you have to also give it. That’s how it should be with everyone, no matter who they are, but, unfortunately, things don’t always work like that.

If you are ever treated badly and without respect by someone in authority, i.e. from a service or agency, whether they be a school, police, health service, the council, a shop, security staff or anybody, you have every right to make a complaint. Most services or places have complaint Departments or Teams that will be happy to listen to you and take your complaint seriously or listen to a suggestion or comment about the services you are receiving. Doing this can sometimes improve things for you and other young people.

It might take a little time to process the information, check the story and speak to the people involved, but a complaint should and will always be taken seriously.

If you don’t know how to make a complaint about somewhere then you could always get advice from the Youth Advice Centre or Young People’s Centre.

See the ‘Your Rights’ page for more information about what your rights are and what you are entitled to.