2 Police Officers Fired After ‘Humiliating’ Strip Search of 15-Year-Old Girl Who Was on Her Period: Report

Two police officers have been fired from their roles after a teenager was strip-searched while on her period.

On Thursday, June 26, the Metropolitan Police released a statement confirming that trainee Detective Constable Kristina Linge and PC Rafal Szmydynski had been dismissed without notice for gross misconduct after a disciplinary hearing.

A third officer, PC Victoria Wray, “received a final written warning for two years after misconduct was proven,” the release read.

On Dec. 3, 2020, a 15-year-old girl, named child Q in the media, was strip-searched by police at her school in Hackney, London.

This came after she was suspected of carrying cannabis.  

“Two female officers conducted a more thorough search of the girl, that exposed intimate parts, in the medical room at the school,” the release added, stating that no drugs were found.

The student was on her period at the time, according to the BBC.

“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,” Child Q said in a statement released via Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, per the outlet. 

She added, “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.”

During the hearing, the search was described as humiliating and degrading, per the BBC.

Her mother also said in a statement, per the outlet, “Professionals wrongly treated my daughter as an adult and as a criminal and she is a changed person as a result. Was it because of her skin? Her hair? Why her?”

“After waiting more than four years I have come every day to the gross misconduct hearing for answers and although I am relieved that two of the officers have been fired I believe that the Metropolitan Police still has a huge amount of work to do if they are to win back the confidence of Black Londoners,” she added.

According to the outlet, Panel chair Cdr Jason Prins branded the officers’ actions as ” improper and conducted without an appropriate adult”.

“The potential effect of a 15-year-old going through puberty had not been considered,” he said.

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According to the Metropolitan Police statement, the hearing found that Child Q’s race did not influence the officer’s actions, “nor that was she subject to adultification.”

However, the BBC reported that while race was not a factor, the panel understood that Black people were more likely to be stopped and searched by authorities.

In a statement, Commander Kevin Southworth apologized on behalf of the Metropolitan Police

“The experience of Child Q should never have happened and was truly regrettable,” Southworth said.

“We have sincerely apologised to Child Q since this incident happened,” the commander added. “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.”

He continued, “While the officers involved did not act correctly, we acknowledge there were organizational 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,” the statement continued. “What happened to Child Q was a catalyst for change both for the Met and for policing nationally.”