Around 650 people aged between 10 and 17 were investigated by officers in the force between 2018 and 2020, according to figures obtained from Scotland Yard by the Children’s Commissioner. Of those children, 58 percent were described by the officer as black, and more than 95 percent were boys. Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza called for the data after the Child Q scandal came to light in March. The 15-year-old student was investigated by police while on her period after being wrongly accused of bringing cannabis to school. The search, by female Metropolitan Police officers, was carried out in 2020 without another adult present and with the knowledge that she was menstruating, a safeguarding report found. A review carried out by the City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership (CHSCP) concluded that the strip-search should never have taken place, was unjustified and racism was “likely to have been an influencing factor”. Four Metropolitan Police officers are being investigated for serious misconduct by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in relation to the incident. Protesters protested the strip-fishing investigation of a young black girl in March (PA Wire) Scotland Yard apologized and said it “never should have happened”. Law firm Bhatt Murphy announced in March that the teenager had brought a civil action against the Met and her school to get “full commitments to ensure this never happens to another child”. The IOPC has since confirmed it is investigating four further studies in children between early 2020 and 2022 and is considering whether to consider a further three. The figures show that the number of investigations into children increased every year, up 18 per cent in 2018, 36 per cent in 2019 and 46 per cent in 2020. In almost a quarter of cases (23 percent), strip-searches were conducted without the presence of an “appropriate adult” being confirmed. This is required by law, except in cases of ‘urgent need’, and is usually a parent or guardian, but can also be a social worker, carer or volunteer. Two-thirds of these (70 percent) involved black boys. Schoolgirls attended the protest outside Stoke Newington Police Station in March (PA Wire) Overall, 53 per cent of all strip-searches led to no further action, which the Children’s Commissioner said showed that “they may not be warranted or necessary in all cases”. Dame Rachel said she was “deeply shocked” by the figures, which show a significant number of children are “subjected to this intrusive and traumatic practice every year”. She is also “extremely concerned” about the ethnic disparity they reveal. He said: “I am not reassured that what happened to Child Q was an isolated issue, but instead I believe it may be a particularly worrying example of a more systemic problem with child protection within the Metropolitan Police. “I remain confident that the Metropolitan Police are consistently considering the welfare and well-being of children.” A woman’s sign reads “No to racist police. Justice for Child Q’ at the March protest (PA wire) Dame Rachel said she has submitted the data to Baroness Louise Casey, who is conducting a standards review at the Met. The Children’s Commissioner’s team will request comparable data from all police forces across England. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “The Metropolitan Police is moving at pace to ensure that children subject to intervention investigations are treated appropriately and respectfully. We recognize the significant impact such searches can have. “We have already made changes and continue to work hard to balance the need to police this type of search with the significant impact it can have on young people. “We have ensured that our officers and staff have a refreshed understanding of the policy for conducting a ‘further search’, particularly in relation to the requirement for an appropriate adult to be present. We also gave officers advice on how to deal with schools, ensuring children are treated as children and considering safeguarding for under-18s. “We have taken a broader look at the ‘further searches’ policy for under 18s. This is to make sure that the policy is appropriate and also that it recognizes the fact that a child in these circumstances may well be a vulnerable victim of exploitation by others involved in gangs, county and drug dealing.” Additional report from PA
