Child Q strip-search was gross misconduct, panel finds

Two Metropolitan Police officers who conducted the “humiliating” strip-search of a 15-year-old schoolgirl committed gross misconduct, a panel has found.

The case was proven against trainee Det Con Kristina Linge and PC Rafal Szmydynski, while PC Victoria Wray’s actions were deemed to be misconduct, after the girl, known as Child Q, was searched at her school in Hackney, east London.

The black schoolgirl, who was wrongly suspected of possessing cannabis, was on her period and forced to expose her intimate parts while no appropriate adult was present in December 2020.

The panel heard that black schoolchildren were more likely to be treated as older and less vulnerable than their white peers.

However, neither age nor race were found to be a factor in the way Child Q was treated.

Cdr Kevin Southworth said: “The experience of Child Q should never have happened and was truly regrettable.

“We have sincerely apologised to Child Q since this incident happened. Again, I am deeply sorry to Child Q and her family for the trauma that we caused her, and the damage this incident caused to the trust and confidence black communities across London have in our officers.”

During the hearing, the search was described as unjustified, inappropriate, disproportionate humiliating and degrading.

Panel chair Cdr Jason Prins said the search “was improper and conducted without an appropriate adult”.

He added that Child Q’s position as a “vulnerable or a potentially exploited child was not adequately considered”.

“The potential effect of a 15-year-old going through puberty had not been considered,” he said.

The panel heard that the officers failed to get authorisation at sergeant level or higher before they took action, which went against police policy.

It was also alleged that no adequate concern was given to Child Q’s age and sex, especially after she removed her sanitary towel.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the decision to strip-search Child Q on suspicion of possessing a small amount of cannabis was “completely disproportionate”.

The panel also considered if Child Q’s race was factor and heard that black people were disproportionately more likely to be stopped and searched by police.

However, the panel did not accept an “inference” that the girl’s race caused “less favourable treatment”.

Details of Child Q’s case were released in a safeguarding report in 2022, which said the search was unjustified and that racism was likely to have been a factor.

It led to widespread protests and calls for urgent action from the government.