Child who was strip searched at school worried she ‘will never feel normal'
A woman who was strip searched as a child at school has said she will 'never feel normal again' after two officers were sacked.
Child Q, who was 15 at the time, was strip-searched by female Met officers in 2020 after she was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis at her east London school.
Later it emerged that she was also on her period, with the girl, who is now an adult, saying she felt 'demeaned'.
A tribunal has since found the actions of two police officers involved amounted to gross misconduct, describing the incident as 'unjustified and humiliating'.
Trainee Det Con Kristina Linge and PC Rafal Szmydynski were sacked, while PC Victoria Wray was given a final warning.
In a statement through her lawyers, 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.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
'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 did not give evidence at the hearing due to the psychological damage of the strip search, but said she felt 'demeaned and physically violated'.
Child Q's mother said in a statement: '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.'
The officers involved had failed to acquire proper authorisation at sergeant level which went against the force's policy.
The panel has heard that black schoolchildren were more likely to be treated as adults rather than their white peers.
But neither age or race were found to be a factor in the way the search was conducted.
Cdr Kevin Southworth said in a statement: '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.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Woman in her 40s stabbed to death just yards away from London Stadium
MORE: Sword attacker who murdered schoolboy in rampage jailed for at least 40 years
MORE: Hero officer who ended samurai killer rampage had 'no time for fear'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
London phone thefts hit record high with 37 people having mobiles stolen every DAY in the West End alone
Phone thefts in London have hit a record high with a shocking 37 people having their mobile stolen every day in the capital's West End alone. New data has revealed that almost 231,000 phone thefts and robberies were recorded over the past four years in the capital, a threefold increase. The epicentre for these brazen crimes is in the world's theatre capital, the West End, a magnet for tourists where around 40,000 phones were reported stolen over the same period, data by the Metropolitan Police shows. Phone thefts in London have soared to record levels, with organised gangs targeting busy areas like the West End and St James's, where luxury streets and royal residences sit side by side with swarms of unsuspecting tourists and shoppers. One major hotspot identified is the area surrounding St James's Park, where Piccadilly and Haymarket meet Pall Mall and Clarence House, home to exclusive members' clubs and high-profile buildings. Analysis by The Times show the West End and St James's now account for a third of all phone thefts reported in the capital, up from a quarter in 2021. Scotland Yard figures show a staggering 81,256 mobile phone crimes were recorded in 2023, a 20 per cent year-on-year rise, and the highest on record. Police believe the true number is even higher, as many incidents go unreported. Other major hotspots include Bloomsbury, Holborn, Covent Garden, Shoreditch, Borough, London Bridge, Waterloo, South Bank, Camden Town, Regent's Park and Stratford. Since 2022, theft rates have risen in more than 200 suburbs across the capital — meaning over a third of London is now affected by the growing crisis. Most thefts are carried out by gangs on electric bikes, who either snatch phones directly from people's hands or operate in crowded areas to pickpocket victims. Police say the surge is fuelled by international black markets, where stolen devices are either sold on or stripped for parts — an illicit industry now worth over £50 million a year. Officers are urging Londoners to stick to well-lit, busy areas, remain alert, and keep valuables out of sight to avoid falling prey to the increasingly brazen criminals. As previously reported the shocking moment a phone snatcher is captured being knocked off his bike by furious Londoners before losing a shoe that police later used to catch him was caught on CCTV. Spencer Duarte, of Saffron Walden, was tackled off his e-bike by members of the public after he stole a phone from an innocent victim's hand in Ludgate Hill, London, on August 7 last year. Dramatic video footage showed the moment a quick-thinking pedestrian leapt into the street and intercepted the robber, who fell into the road while on his bike. Duarte, who initially stood up and was able to get back on his bike, was then chased down by two more members of the public. Cornered on the side of the pavement, he was pulled from his bike a second time as he attempted to flee. The phone thief, dressed in a flourescent top and helmet, then proceeded to run across the road away from the furious Londoners. In a last minute attempt at halting the robber, another four pedestrians reached out to try and grab hold of Duarte, who darted at speed between the different men before making a successful exit down the road. During the ensuing struggle, Duarte lost a shoe, which police detectives later used to catch him for his crimes as a result of the DNA it held. The 28-year-old, who was spotted and arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on September 9, admitted to one count of theft at Inner London Crown Court this week. He also accepted that he had items in his rucksack going equipped to steal. Duarte is due to be sentenced on September 12. Dubbed the 'Cinderella phone snatcher', Andrew Walker, physical forensics manager of the City of London Police, described how Duarte was ultimately caught as a result of his trainer being left at the scene. He said: 'We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile that was suitable for searching against the national DNA database. 'This search generated a 'hit' to a male whose profile had previously been uploaded. 'The slipper fitted our Cinderella and we were able to bring him before the courts.' Meanwhile, dramatic scene unfolded in Westminster where a cyclist, wearing all black clothes, overtook some cars on the road before suddenly swerving to the left. The video shows the cyclist clearly turning their attention towards a pedestrian walking on the pavement. The man, wearing running clothes, was on his phone as the thief brazenly mounted onto the pavement and quickly snatched it from him. The victim puts his hands to his head in disbelief before making a belated attempt to run after the thief.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Tourist who kicked airport dog into the air receives satisfying punishment
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video An Egyptian tourist was deported moments after he kicked an airport security dog into the air. Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, 70, attacked beagle Freddie on Tuesday at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. He kicked the dog as he waited for his baggage to arrive after landing in from Cairo. Freddie had alerted to one of his bags, and detected more than 100 pounds worth of prohibited food inside Marie's luggage. Inside was 55 pounds of beef meat, 44 pounds of rice, 15 pounds of eggplant, cucumbers and bell peppers, two pounds of corn seeds, and a pound of herbs. As he was being questioned by Freddie's handler, Marie suddenly kicked the dog so hard he flew into the air. Footage shows Freddie on his hind legs and another shot showing his mid-air. After being taken to the vet, he was was found to have suffered contusions on his right forward rib area. He pleaded guilty to harming the dog and was ordered to pay the vet fees, before being swiftly removed from the US. Christine Waugh, CBP's Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C, said: 'Being caught deliberately smuggling well over one hundred pounds of undeclared and prohibited agriculture products does not give one permission to violently assault a defenseless Customs and Border Protection beagle. 'We rely heavily on our K9 partners and Freddie was just doing his job. Any malicious attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) will continue to work with our investigating and prosecuting partners to deal swift and severe justice to perpetrators.' The CBP said: 'CBP's Beagles Brigade plays a vital role in screening passengers and cargo to prevent the introduction of harmful plant pests and foreign animal disease from entering the U.S. 'Animal and plant diseases and invasive pests and weeds have cost nations millions to billions of dollars in eradication measures and lost revenues.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Missing TikTok star's body found dismembered in bags at water treatment plant MORE: Boy, 2, fighting for his life after being stung by wasps 150 times while riding toy car MORE: Over 80 sickly dogs rescued after woman found dead in her home
Metro
7 hours ago
- Metro
Humiliated Putin loses warplanes worth £148,000,000 despite stepping up security
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Vladimir Putin has lost four warplanes worth £37 million each despite stepping up their defences after Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb. A pair of Su-34 fighters were destroyed and two more damaged after an attack on on Marinovka military airfield in Volgograd. Ukraine used long range drones to fly more than 200 miles to inflict the latest £148 million blow to Putin's aerial firepower. It came less than a month after Russia supposedly tightened its military air base security after 40-plus strategic bombers and spy planes were hit in Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb. Russia responded by hitting Ukrainian civilians with a strike on a 21-storey residential block in Odesa, killing a married couple and leaving at least 14 others wounded including children aged three and seven. Furious Russian military analysts confirmed the damage to the Su-34 multi-role fighters used on the frontline for bombing missions against Ukraine, including dropping guided aerial bombs. The latest attack was admitted by pro-war Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber which raged that the hit 'could and should have been prevented'. 'There is no point in commenting on Marinovka….and it would be nice if not only the [Ukrainians] were held accountable….otherwise, it will continue like this.' The channel expressed fury at the 'multi-billion dollar' losses Putin's forces are suffering. Ukraine's SBU security service said: 'The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and the SBU used long-range drones to attack Russian fighter jets. 'The attack also caused a fire in the technical and operational part of the enemy airfield, which is a critical infrastructure for a military facility. 'This is where the enemy prepares aircraft for flights, carries out their routine maintenance and repair work.' Ukraine staged the successful strike despite Russia reportedly boosting security around its key air bases. The Su-34s are the backbone of Russia's tactical strike aviation. In Operation Spiderweb drones were launched from trucks positioned close to at least four Russian airfields. In Odessa, fire swept through a residential building after the Russia strike. More Trending The bodies of a married couple – sleeping when Putin's forces struck – were pulled from the rubble. At least 14 were wounded in the strike, with dozens evacuated. Putin has repeatedly targeted civilians in a sign that he has no intention of seeking peace and intends to carry on with his bid to invade and subjugate Ukraine. 'A couple was killed – their bodies were pulled from the rubble of a damaged apartment building,' said Ukraine's national police. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Which countries have reintroduced conscription in Europe? MORE: Putin stages deadly war games after NATO agrees to increase defence spending MORE: Map shows safest countries to be in if global conflict breaks out
