Two Metropolitan Police Officers Found Guilty of Gross Misconduct in Strip Search of 15-Year-Old Girl

Two Metropolitan Police officers were found guilty of gross misconduct during a strip search of a 15-year-old black girl, known as Child Q, at her school in Hackney, east London, on December 3 2020. The girl was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis and was subjected to a humiliating and traumatic search while on her period. The police disciplinary hearing found that Child Q's rights were breached, including the absence of an appropriate adult and her mother being informed of the situation. The officers, Pc Kristina Linge and Pc Rafal Szmydynski, were found to have committed gross misconduct, while Pc Victoria Wray's behavior was deemed misconduct.

Key Takeaways:

• The police disciplinary hearing found that the strip search of Child Q was "disproportionate, inappropriate, and unnecessary" and "humiliating" for the 15-year-old girl.
• The search was carried out without an appropriate adult being present, and the child's mother was not informed of the situation.
• Child Q felt "demeaned" and "physically violated" by the experience, and the search had a significant psychological impact on her.
• The judges acknowledged that race was not a factor in the way Child Q was treated, but the search was unacceptable nonetheless.
• The officers involved, Pc Kristina Linge, Pc Rafal Szmydynski, and Pc Victoria Wray, are now waiting to hear if they will be sacked or face other penalties.
• The Metropolitan Police is facing criticism over the handling of the case, with some calling for greater accountability and more robust safeguards to protect children's rights.

Statistics:

• The incident occurred on December 3 2020, at the school in Hackney, east London.
• The police disciplinary hearing took four weeks to complete.
• Child Q was 15 years old at the time of the strip search.
• The search involved the removal of Child Q's clothing, including her underwear, and the exposure of intimate parts of her body while she was menstruating.
• The officers involved have been accused of committing gross misconduct, with Pc Victoria Wray's behavior considered misconduct.

Sources:

• [1] PA Wire (2022) Two Met officers found guilty of gross misconduct in strip search of 15-year-old girl
• [2] Metro News (2022) Met police officer suspected of gross misconduct in strip search of girl, 15
• [3] The Guardian (2022) Met officers found guilty of gross misconduct in strip search of teenager
• [4] Evening Standard (2022) Two Met officers found guilty of gross misconduct in strip search of girl, 15