Police Cleared in Teen Force Case, but Flagged Missed Chances to Avoid It

South Yorkshire Police found officers lawfully used force on teenage girls during a disturbance. Rather than punish them, the force ordered "reflective practice"—conversations between officers and supervisors about handling the incident better. The ruling separates two questions: Was the force necessary? Could it have been prevented altogether? Police forces are now tracking these patterns across the country to improve how they deal with young people.