Two Met Police officers who strip-searched schoolgirl committed gross misconduct

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

Misconduct has been proven in the case of a third police officer, after the girl, known as Child Q, was searched at her school in Hackney, east London, in December 2020.

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.

A further search of Child Q's hair was also carried out and no drugs were found. 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.

Trainee Det Con Kristina Linge and PC Rafal Szmydynski were both found to have committed gross misconduct, while misconduct was proven against PC Victoria Wray. All three were constables at the time.

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."

The panel found the action by Trainee Det Con Linge and PC Szmdynski amounted to gross misconduct.

Misconduct was proven in the action taken by PC Wray.

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.

Further evidence alleged that no adequate concern was given to Child Q's age and sex, especially after she removed her sanitary towel.