The Met has been condemned for the incident
(Picture: PA Archive)Widespread criticism has been levelled at police officers after the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review found a girl was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis and strip searched without another adult present.
Among the outraged response, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “This is shocking and deeply disturbing. I’m extremely concerned by the findings of this report - no child should ever have to face a situation like this.”
This is shocking and deeply disturbing. I'm extremely concerned by the findings of this report - no child should ever have to face a situation like this.
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) March 15, 2022
It’s entirely right that the incident is being investigated by the IOPC. https://t.co/6TK0D0s6pF
Dawn Butler Labour MP for Brent Central said the “cruel” actions taken by officers will now have a serious impact on the child’s life.
She also added in a tweet: “An apology just won’t cut it. This is sanctioned abuse by adults who are supposed to protect children.
“No apology just action please. Dismissals are needed immediately. This dehumanising of our children must stop. Constant mental & physical abuse must stop.”
Janet Daby, Labour MP for Lewisham East, said society should be outraged by the shocking incident.
She said: “As a society we all need to be outraged by this child being stripped naked at school by authorities. This is an abuse, it is violence against women!
An apology just won't cut it.
— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) March 16, 2022
This is sanctioned abuse by adults who are supposed to protect children.
No apology just action please. Dismissals are needed immediately.
This dehumanising of our children must stop. Constant mental & physical abuse must stop. https://t.co/eQJK2GfVDQ
“She can not return to this unsafe place. These officers & teachers are not fit for their job or to work with children ever again.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP for Streathham also said: “The Met have apologised to a child they strip-searched after wrongly suspecting her of carrying cannabis. Whilst on her period. Without an adult present.
“Without wholesale reform of the way the Met engages with the Black community, this apology is just reputation management.”
Liberal Democrat assembly member Caroline Pidgeon branded the incident “deeply shocking”.
The report conducted by the City & the Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership (CHSCP) found the Met’s strip search was unjustified and racism was likely to have had a factor.
The pupil, referred to as Child Q, as taken to the medical room and strip searched by two female officers while teachers remained outside.
During the ordeal her intimate body parts were exposed and she was asked to take off her sanitary towel, according to the review.
No drugs were found. She was then sent home by taxi, later sharing her distress with her mother.
Detective Superintendent Dan Rutland of the Met’s Central East Command said: “We recognise that the findings of the safeguarding review reflect this incident should never have happened.
“It is truly regrettable and on behalf of the Met Police I would like to apologise to the child concerned, her family and the wider community.”
The Standard has approached the Met for further comment.
