Police Officer Admits to Strip Searching 15-Year-Old Schoolgirl, Claims "I Was Doing the Right Thing"

A Metropolitan Police officer who strip searched a 15-year-old schoolgirl in December 2020 told a misconduct panel that she thought she was "doing the right thing", despite the search being widely condemned as humiliating and degrading. The incident involved the removal of the girl's clothing, including underwear, and exposing intimate parts of her body while she was menstruating. Trainee detective constable Kristina Linge and two other police officers, Pc Victoria Wray and Pc Rafal Szmydynski, are accused of gross misconduct over their treatment of the girl.

Key Takeaways:

• The strip search was performed without authorization, in the absence of an appropriate adult, and with no concern for the girl's age, sex, or need to treat her as a child.
• Pc Wray admitted that she thought she was doing the right thing, but later acknowledged that the search was unjustified, inappropriate, disproportionate, and humiliating.
• Pc Wray stated that she did not use stereotypes to make decisions, but records showed that the majority of individuals stopped and searched by her were black or Asian.
• Pc Wray claimed that she was following the lead of other officers and did not stop to reassess the situation, despite acknowledging that she should have.
• The girl, known as Child Q, has not given evidence at the tribunal due to the psychological effects the search has had on her.
• The Metropolitan Police have previously apologized for the incident, and protests have taken place outside Stoke Newington Police Station in response to the outrage.

Statistics:

• 15-year-old schoolgirl (Child Q) was strip searched without authorization and in the absence of an appropriate adult.
• 3 police officers, including Pc Victoria Wray, are accused of gross misconduct over their treatment of Child Q.
• Majority of individuals stopped and searched by Pc Wray were black or Asian.
• Notable that the incident occurred on December 3, 2020.
• Metropolitan Police have apologized for the incident.

Sources:

• The Guardian: "Met police officer admits strip searching 15-year-old schoolgirl thought she was 'doing right thing'"
• BBC News: "Child Q: Met police officer admits to strip search on 15-year-old girl"
• The Independent: "Child Q: Met police officer accused of gross misconduct for strip searching 15-year-old schoolgirl"