The case of Child Q remains one of the most shocking and profoundly disturbing incidents involving the treatment of a child by police in recent memory. As I have repeatedly said, the strip searching of Child Q at school, without the presence of her parents or a trusted adult, while on her period should never have happened – as police guidance has confirmed.
Today’s IOPC investigation into the conduct of the three Metropolitan Police officers involved in this case, and the resulting gross misconduct verdict for two of the officers, is a critical step in the pursuit of accountability but will not make up for the serious failures in safeguarding. Sorry must mean it and Child Q’s case has to be a line in the sand.
Since Child Q’s case came to light, I have used my statutory powers to investigate the strip searching of children by police, and while there have been some signs of improvement in how searches are carried out and recorded, too many strip searches today are unnecessary, unsafe and underreported.
I will continue to push for urgent reform. The strip searching of children should never form part of routine policing. It must only be used as a last resort if there is an immediate risk of harm to the child or others with proper safeguards in place – children should never be put through such traumatic experiences without rigorous standards.
I have once again requested the data from police forces on strip searching and will continue to shine a light on the practice until I see concrete and irreversible evidence that meaningful change is happening. This means fewer children being strip searched, better adherence to safeguarding protocols and an end to racial disparities that have persisted for too long.
