Two Metropolitan Police officers have been sacked after being found to have committed gross misconduct over the “disproportionate” and “humiliating” strip-search of a black schoolgirl wrongly accused of possessing cannabis.
The 15-year-old was searched while on her period with no appropriate adult present at a school in Hackney after being accused of carrying drugs on December 3, 2020.
Nothing was found in her bags or outer clothing.
Child Q, now a woman, said she does not know if she is going to “feel normal again”.
A disciplinary hearing, held at Central East Command Unit found a number of allegations proven against trainee Detective Constable Kristina Linge, PC Victoria Wray and PC Rafal Szmydynski over the treatment of the schoolgirl, referred to as Child Q.
The hearing concluded that the search of Child Q was “unnecessary, inappropriate and disproportionate”.
The actions of trainee detective constable Kristina Linge and Pc Rafal Szmydynski amounted to gross misconduct the police disciplinary tribunal sitting in south east London ruled on Thursday. They have both been dismissed without notice.
Pc Victoria Wray was cleared of gross misconduct, but found to have committed misconduct, and was given a final written warning.
Allegations that all three breached the standards of professional behaviour for equality and diversity were not proven.
In a family statement released by Bhatt Murphy Solicitors after the hearing, Child Q said: "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."
Child Q's mother said the Metropolitan Police has a "huge amount" of work to do if they are to win back the confidence of black Londoners.
The Metropolitan Police said they are "deeply sorry" for the experience of Child Q and apologised for "organisational failings" that led to the strip search.
Commander 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.
"While the officers involved did not act correctly, we acknowledge there were organisational failings. Training to our officers around strip search and the type of search carried out on Child Q was inadequate, and our oversight of the power was also severely lacking. This left officers, often young in service or junior in rank, making difficult decisions in complex situations with little information, support or clear resources to help their decision-making.
"What happened to Child Q was a catalyst for change both for the Met and for policing nationally.
"While we should not have needed an incident such as Child Q to check our approach, it has absolutely led us to improving our processes and significantly reducing the number of these types of searches carried out.
"It's crucial we get this right to ensure the impact on young people is minimised as far as possible.
"Sadly, we know there are children in London being exploited to carry drugs and weapons for others as well as involved in criminality, so these types of searches have to remain within police powers. The work we have done since Child Q means we now have the right safeguards in place."
