Three Metropolitan Police officers are set to undergo gross misconduct hearings following a wrongful strip-search of a black schoolgirl identified as Child Q, aged 15, in Hackney in December 2020. The incident raised concerns about racial discrimination, the absence of an appropriate adult, and a lack of authorisation from a supervisor.
Child Q, who was falsely accused of possessing drugs, was subjected to a strip-search while on her period, further adding to the distressing circumstances of the incident. Notably, no drugs were found during the search, and the actions of the officers have been met with significant criticism.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has urged the Metropolitan Police to consider offering a formal apology to Child Q and her mother. Allegations against the officers include racial and gender discrimination, the inappropriate nature of the search, the absence of an appropriate adult during the procedure, and the failure to seek authorisation from a supervisor.
If gross misconduct is established, the officers could face dismissal from the police force.
In addition to the three officers facing gross misconduct hearings, a fourth Met officer will undergo a disciplinary meeting to address the absence of an appropriate adult during the search.
The incident occurred when Child Q was taken out of an exam to the school’s medical room, where she was subjected to a strip-search by two female Met police officers who were searching for cannabis. This took place while teachers remained outside, raising concerns about the circumstances under which the search was conducted.
The safeguarding review of the incident, published in March 2022, revealed that the girl’s intimate body parts were exposed during the search, and she was made to remove her sanitary towel.
Steve Noonan, director of the IOPC, emphasised that the officers should face “disciplinary proceedings” for their roles in the incident, and a disciplinary panel will ultimately determine the outcome based on the allegations.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, issued a formal apology to Child Q and her family, acknowledging the “trauma” inflicted upon her. He stressed that the incident should never have occurred and stated that higher levels of authorisation are now required for strip-searches. Furthermore, Conway mentioned that the number of such searches has been reduced due to concerns about overuse of this power within the force.
