A teenager strip-searched by Metropolitan Police officers while on her period has spoken out, saying she may “never feel normal again.”
The incident took place in 2020 at a school in Hackney, east London, when the then-15-year-old, known as Child Q, was wrongly suspected of possessing cannabis. The girl, a Black school pupil, was subjected to a humiliating and invasive search on school premises without an appropriate adult present.
Officers Dismissed for Gross Misconduct
A tribunal spanning four weeks concluded on Thursday that two officers involved in the case were guilty of gross misconduct. Trainee Detective Constable Kristina Linge and PC Rafal Szmydynski have both been dismissed from the force without notice. A third officer was found to have committed misconduct and received a final written warning.
Child Q, now older but still traumatised by the experience, shared her anguish through a statement issued by Bhatt Murphy Solicitors: “Someone walked into the school, where I was supposed to feel safe, took me away from the people who were supposed to protect me and stripped me naked, while on my period.
I can’t go a single day without wanting to scream, shout, cry or just give up. I don’t know if I’m going to feel normal again. But I do know this can’t happen to anyone, ever again.” She did not appear at the tribunal in person.
Ongoing Concerns Over Racial Disparities
Child Q’s mother, who attended each day of the hearing, expressed mixed emotions. While she welcomed the verdict, she stressed the Metropolitan Police had a long road ahead to regain trust among Black communities in London.
The tribunal heard evidence pointing to racial disparities in police treatment, particularly regarding Black children, who are often perceived as less vulnerable than their white peers. However, the panel ultimately concluded that neither race nor age was a determining factor in the search.
Met Police Issues Apology
Commander Kevin Southworth, head of Public Protection for the Met’s Frontline Policing, condemned the handling of the case: “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.”
The search was conducted on 3 December 2020 after school staff reported a strong smell of cannabis and suspected drug possession. Two female officers conducted a full strip search in the school’s medical room, but no drugs were found. Crucially, the search was carried out without an appropriate adult present.
Systemic Issues in Strip Searches
A recent report from the Children’s Commissioner highlighted the frequency of such incidents. Between January 2018 and June 2023, a child was strip-searched every 14 hours on average. Worryingly, nearly half of these searches occurred without an appropriate adult present.
Lynn Perry, Chief Executive of children’s charity Barnardo’s, commented: “It’s deeply worrying that strip searching children is so common, so frequently done without proper safeguarding, and that Black children are four times more likely to be strip searched than children from other backgrounds.
It’s essential that policing is done with respect and safety, and that children and young people can trust the criminal justice system.”
This case has reignited the debate about policing standards, particularly concerning young people and racial bias. The Met Police, already under scrutiny, now faces renewed calls for institutional reform.
