Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Finn Byrne & Katie Weston

Met Police probed after two more children strip-searched without an adult present

The Metropolitan Police is being investigated for strip-searching more children.

Two 16-year-old boys were strip-searched in custody without an adult present, said the force.

The searches took place at Ilford Police Station in January 2020 and Bethnal Green Police Station in October 2020.

The two incidents are now being probed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), after the force referred 11 separate strip-searches of minors to the watchdog.

Those referrals were made in addition to three other strip searches that are being investigated, relating to 'Child Q', 'Child A' and 'Child X' (also known as 'Olivia').

Two 16-year-old boys were strip searched in custody without an adult present, said the force (file photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Child Q was strip searched by female Metropolitan Police officers at her school in 2020 without another adult present and in the knowledge that she was menstruating.

The 15-year-old had been wrongly accused of carrying cannabis.

Following the traumatic search, family members described her as changing from a “happy-go-lucky girl to a timid recluse that hardly speaks”.

The case sparked outrage from politicians and the public, with protests taking place in London.

Protesters demonstrate their support of Child Q, who was strip searched by police after being wrongly accused of carrying cannabis (In Pictures via Getty Images)

Mayor Sadiq Khan also shared his “dismay and disgust”, while equalities minister Kemi Badenoch calling it an “appalling incident”.

In total, 14 strip searches over an 18-month period have now been referred by the Met to the IOPC.

In a statement, the watchdog said: "The two new investigations both involve 16-year-old boys, who we understand were strip searched in custody with no appropriate adult present after being detained.

"The strip searches took place at Ilford police station in January 2020, and at the Bethnal Green police station in October 2020.

In total, 14 strip searches over an 18-month period have now been referred by the Met to the IOPC (In Pictures via Getty Images)

"It brings the total number of such investigations we are carrying out to five; the other three involve strip searches by MPS officers of a 15-year-old girl, known as Child Q, at a school in December 2020; another 15-year-old girl in a cell that same month; and another child in a separate incident earlier this year (2022)."

The force said it introduced changes in April to ensure officers and staff have a "refreshed understanding" of the policy for conducting strip searches outside of custody.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, leading this work in the Met, said: "Ensuring the safeguarding of every child who is subject to a search is an absolute priority.

Child Q's case sparked outrage from politicians and the public, with protests taking place in London (In Pictures via Getty Images)

"What happened to Child Q was a truly regrettable incident and we have apologised publicly to her, her family and the wider community.

"We understand how much concern this incident has caused, and how distressed Child Q has been.

“We have been listening to the views of our communities and partners, and have already made changes as we balance the policing need for this type of search with the considerable impact it can have on young people.

“We will continue to liaise with the IOPC to discuss what more we need to do, particularly around reminding officers again of the very important requirement for an appropriate adult to be present during searches - a common theme in cases we have voluntarily referred to the IOPC, and one we must address.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.