Two London Police Officers Found Guilty Over Strip Search of 15-Year-Old School girl

Two Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of gross misconduct after carrying out a strip search on a 15-year-old Black schoolgirl in Hackney, East London, in 2020.

The young girl, known publicly as Child Q, was searched inside her school after staff believed she may have been carrying cannabis. No drugs were found. 

The student was on her period at the time and was searched without a responsible adult present, as required by law when searching a child.

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The misconduct panel found that the search was: Unnecessary, Not properly authorised, Deeply upsetting to the child involved

The officers involved Trainee Detective Constable Kristina Linge and PC Rafal Szmydynski were found to have breached multiple rules, including failing to get senior approval and not providing a copy of the search record.

A third officer, PC Victoria Wray, was also found to have committed misconduct for not questioning whether the search was appropriate.

The panel said there was no evidence that race played a role in the officers’ actions, but acknowledged the emotional impact the incident had on Child Q and how it affected public confidence, especially in London’s Black communities.

Commander Kevin Southworth of the Metropolitan Police said:

“The experience of Child Q should never have happened. We are deeply sorry for the trauma caused and the damage done to trust.”

The hearing was led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and lasted four weeks. Disciplinary action is expected to follow.

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