Two Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of gross misconduct over the “disproportionate” and “humiliating” strip search of a 15-year-old Black girl, known as Child Q, at a school in Hackney, east London, in 2020. The girl was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis when the search was conducted, an incident that has since sparked widespread condemnation and calls for reform in police procedures involving children.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation revealed serious failings in the way the search was carried out. There was no proper supervision or authorisation before the search, and an appropriate adult was not present during the procedure, as required by regulations. The IOPC concluded that the officers discriminated against Child Q due to her race and sex, with the search ultimately causing her significant mental harm and distress. The officers’ actions were described as “disproportionate in all the circumstances,” suffering Child Q to feel physically violated and traumatised.
One of the officers, PC Wray, apologised during a disciplinary hearing, admitting that the search “should have never happened.” She acknowledged several failings, including neglecting to complete mandatory training on police search procedures and being unaware of the need to handle individuals who were menstruating, as in Child Q’s case, with sensitivity. The panel is evaluating whether these officers should remain part of the Metropolitan Police Service.
This case spotlighted wider systemic issues. Between July 2022 and June 2023, 457 strip searches were conducted on children in England and Wales, often breaching procedural rules. Black children were disproportionately targeted, being four times more likely to be strip searched compared to the general population, though there has been a slight decrease in this disparity. Despite some improvements in police record-keeping and authorization protocols, over 50 strip searches took place in public view, contrary to guidelines.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, admitted that the force had been “overusing this power” and stated that since the Child Q incident, there have been significant practical improvements in the authorization and conduct of strip searches, particularly involving minors and intimate searches outside custody. These reforms have led to a notable reduction in the number of strip searches conducted by the force.
Following the Child Q case, the IOPC has urged the Home Office, National Police Chiefs’ Council, and College of Policing to review and tighten national guidance and training on strip searches, especially when intimate body parts are exposed. The IOPC further recommended that the Metropolitan Police issue formal apologies to Child Q and her family, acknowledging the distress and harm caused.
The Child Q case remains a profoundly important moment in examining police conduct and racial bias. It illustrates how Black children are often treated as older and less vulnerable than their white counterparts, influencing inappropriate use of powers. The ongoing disciplinary hearings and official investigations underscore a growing recognition that safeguarding vulnerable children must take precedence in policing, calling for higher thresholds and stricter safeguards before intrusive actions like strip searches are authorised.
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Source: Noah Wire Services