Police Watchdog Recommends Gross Misconduct Charges for Child Q Officers

Undated image of a demonstration outside Stoke Newington police station in London, over the treatment of Child Q. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has recommended three officers involved in the strip searching of a 15-year-old black girl at her school in London face gross misconduct hearings.

If found guilty in relation to the incident in December 2020 the three constables could be sacked.

A fourth officer will face a misconduct hearing, which has less serious consequences.

The allegations derive from “potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour relating to duties and responsibilities, conduct, and equality and diversity.”

The IOPC is also calling for a substantial review of the police’s powers to strip search children in the wake of the Child Q case.

Child Q—who was menstruating at the time when she was searched—was accused of having cannabis on her at the school in Hackney, east London, and was taken out of a room where she was taking an exam and strip-searched with no “appropriate adult” present.

Met Advised to Apologise to Child Q

The police watchdog advised the Metropolitan Police to consider formally apologising to Child Q and her mother for the way she was treated.

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The IOPC said the gross misconduct hearings should consider the following allegations:

• That the decision to undertake the strip search was inappropriate.
• That there was no consultation with a superior officer or attempt to obtain authorisation before carrying out the search.
• That there was no appropriate adult present during the search.
• That Child Q was discriminated against because of her race and sex.

The IOPC has advised the Home Office, National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing to review and make changes to national guidance, policy and training when it comes to strip searching juveniles.

The row over Child Q began in March 2022 when news of the strip search first broke.

Hundreds of activists protested and the head teacher of the school—which has never been identified—resigned the following month, due to “ill health.”

She had been heavily criticised when it emerged the strip search had been carried out after staff at the school contacted the police and said they suspected the girl was in possession of cannabis.

No Drugs Found on Child Q

The IOPC said which found no drugs were found in the girl’s bags or outer clothing but she was then strip-searched by two female officers as two male officers stood outside the room.

No drugs were found during the strip search and the girl was not charged with any offence.

The watchdog had begun its investigation back in May 2021 after the Met referred complaints it had received to the IOPC.

Police officers have the power under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to carry out strip searches.

But the IOPC said: “Our investigation looked into whether the grounds for the search and the conduct of officers complied with relevant local and national policies, procedures, guidance and legislation.”

“We also investigated whether officers treated Child Q differently because of her race and sex, and the officers’ communication with school staff during and after the incident,” it added.

‘Widespread Concern’ Over Child Q Case

IOPC Director Steve Noonan said: “The strip search of Child Q, a 15-year-old girl, at her school in Hackney caused widespread concern.”

“We’ve found that four officers involved in the incident should face disciplinary proceedings for the parts they played. Ultimately it will be for that disciplinary panel to decide whether the allegations against them are proven,” Mr. Noonan added.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “We have been clear in saying that the experience of Child Q should never have happened and was truly regrettable. While we have publicly apologised, I am also writing formally to Child Q and her family to say sorry for the trauma that we caused her.”

Det. Ch. Supt. Conway added: “It will now be for the hearing panel to determine whether the matters against the three officers are proven and it is important we don’t pre-judge the outcome.”

In March this year Rory Geoghegan, a former government special adviser, warned county lines gangs were ready to exploit children if the police’s powers of strip searching them were reduced.

Mr. Geoghegan, writing on the On The Beat blog, said: “It should ... be clear that banning or restricting the use of police powers ‘against children’ in fact only serves to increase the attractiveness of children for criminal exploitation.”