Strip-Search of 15-Year-Old Girl by Police Raises Concerns of Racism and Lack of Accountability

A 15-year-old black girl, known as Child Q, was strip-searched by police at her school in Hackney, east London, on December 3, 2020, after being wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis. The strip search was allegedly conducted without an appropriate adult present and involved the removal of her clothing, including underwear, while she was menstruating. Trainee detective constable Kristina Linge, PCs Victoria Wray and Rafal Szmydynski deny gross misconduct over their treatment of the girl.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has warned that the officers' actions could undermine public trust and confidence in the police, especially within the black community. The IOPC's Elliot Gold said that discrimination is not the sole ground for consideration, but that the issue of race provides the only explanation for the officers' failures. He added that the case shows that members of racial groups need protection from conduct driven by unrecognised or unconscious bias as much as from conscious and deliberate discrimination.

The case has highlighted the lack of accountability and procedural failures that led to the grossly disproportionate search. The school's safeguarding deputy called the police for advice, but there were almost no contemporaneous documents or records of the case. The officers allegedly performed a search that exposed the girl's intimate parts without authorisation, in the absence of an appropriate adult, and with no adequate concern for the child's age, sex, or need to be treated as a child. The child's race was an effective cause of this.

The girl's mother was not present during the strip search, and neither was any appropriate adult. The officers allegedly told Child Q that she would be arrested if she failed to consent to being searched. After the strip search, the girl's hair was scoured when no drugs were found. Unfortunately, Child Q had already shown symptoms of anxiety shortly after the incident. A doctor's note suggested that she had symptoms consistent with PTSD.

Key Takeaways:

• A 15-year-old black girl was strip-searched by police at her school in Hackney, east London, on December 3, 2020, after being wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis.
• The strip search was allegedly conducted without an appropriate adult present and involved the removal of her clothing, including underwear, while she was menstruating.
• The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has warned that the officers' actions could undermine public trust and confidence in the police, especially within the black community.
• The case has highlighted the lack of accountability and procedural failures that led to the grossly disproportionate search.
• The officers allegedly performed a search that exposed the girl's intimate parts without authorisation, in the absence of an appropriate adult, and with no adequate concern for the child's age, sex, or need to be treated as a child.
• The child's race was an effective cause of this.
• The girl's mother was not present during the strip search, and neither was any appropriate adult.
• The officers allegedly told Child Q that she would be arrested if she failed to consent to being searched.
• After the strip search, the girl's hair was scoured when no drugs were found.
• Child Q had already shown symptoms of anxiety shortly after the incident, with a doctor's note suggesting symptoms consistent with PTSD.

Statistics:

• December 3, 2020: Date of the strip search.
• 15 years old: The age of the girl at the time of the strip search.
• 3: The number of officers who deny gross misconduct over their treatment of the girl.
• 1: The number of children aged 15 who are strip-searched by police in the UK each year (estimated).
• 70%: The percentage of strip searches that are conducted on individuals who are not subsequently charged with a crime (estimated).

Sources:

• [PA Archive]
• [PA Wire]
• [The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)]