Latest news with #ChildQ
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Met police officers who strip-searched black schoolgirl, 15, while she was on her period are guilty of gross misconduct
Two Metropolitan Police officers who strip-searched a 15-year-old black schoolgirl while she was on her period have been found guilty of gross misconduct. The incident, which took place at a school in Hackney, east London, in 2020, saw the girl, known as Child Q, searched by officers who believed she was carrying cannabis. A misconduct panel concluded that the strip search, which involved the exposure of her intimate parts, was 'disproportionate, inappropriate and unnecessary.' No drugs were found on the child. The hearing also heard how the ordeal left the schoolgirl feeling 'humiliated' and 'degraded.' Trainee Detective Constable Kristina Linge and Police Constable Rafal Szmydynski were criticised for their handling of the situation and now could face being sacked from the force. It was concluded that they failed to ensure that an appropriate adult was present during the strip search - as is required when a minor is involved - and for not seeking senior officer authorisation beforehand. They also failed to provide the girl with a copy of the search record, in direct breach of police policy and training. The misconduct panel concluded the officers did not respect the girl's rights as a child and failed to give her the protection she was entitled to under the law. A third officer, PC Victoria Wray, was also found to have committed misconduct for not questioning whether the search was proportionate or checking whether it had been properly authorised. She too breached police standards relating to duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy, and following orders and instructions. However, the panel did not find that any of the officers had breached standards relating to equality and diversity, or honesty and integrity. Crucially, it concluded there was no evidence that race was a factor in their decisions, nor that the girl had been 'adultified.' The four-week disciplinary hearing was led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and chaired by Met Commander Jason Prins. In 2022 the incident sparked protests on the streets where they were heard chanting 'no justice, no peace, abolish the police' and 'racist cops, out of schools'. They also held up signs reading 'no to racist police, justice for Child Q' and 'we say no to police in schools', as well as Black Lives Matter banners. They also chanted 'shame on you' at officers outside the station, footage on social media showed. A protester from Catcalls of London, an Instagram-based awareness group, wrote messages in multi-coloured chalk on the pavement, with one reading: 'Dearest Child Q, the systems designed to protect you failed you. 'We see you. We stand here for you. We are with you.' Commander Kevin Southworth said: '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. 'While the officers involved did not act correctly, we acknowledge there were organisational 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. 'What happened to Child Q was a catalyst for change both for the Met and for policing nationally. 'While we should not have needed an incident such as Child Q to check our approach, it has absolutely led us to improving our processes and significantly reducing the number of these types of searches carried out. 'It's crucial we get this right to ensure the impact on young people is minimised as far as possible. 'Sadly, we know there are children in London being exploited to carry drugs and weapons for others as well as involved in criminality, so these types of searches have to remain within police powers. The work we have done since Child Q means we now have the right safeguards in place.'
The Sun
09-07-2025
- The Sun
Girl injured in Southport attack asks ‘how will I be normal again?' as parents reveal torment at inquiry into tragedy
A YOUNG girl injured in the Southport attack still asks "how will I ever be normal again", her heartbroken mum told a public inquiry today. Triple killer Axel Rudakubana launched into a savage knife attack at a Taylor Swift dance class last summer. 5 5 The 18-year-old murdered Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and injured other children in the horror. A public inquiry will now look at whether the attack could or should have been prevented given what was known about the killer. Today, the parents of children injured in the July 29 massacre opened up on their torment almost a year on. One mum whose daughter was attacked said her daughter became "very withdrawn, emotional and had so many worries" after witnessing the horror. She asks still: "How will I ever be normal again?" Her mum said arriving to collect her daughter on that day and seeing screaming children from the building was "the most horrific experience of my life". She told how the girl, referred to only as Child Q, is now anxious about not being with her parents and is still scared when she hears a siren. She continued: "She is still unable to sleep alone and struggles with falling asleep. She always asks for doors to be closed when we enter or leave a room, this helps her to feel safe. "Changes have also been made at school; she now sits where she can see the door so she can always be aware of who is entering the classroom. "On a few occasions she has been unable to attend school due to her anxiety, explaining this as her tummy feels funny and hiding under the dining table at home.' The dad of one of the girls, named as C3, told Liverpool Town Hall it was "patently clear that lessons need to be learned from what happened, and processes need to be changed". 5 5 5 Sitting beside the girl's mother in the witness box, he said: "Our nine-year-old daughter was stabbed three times in the back by a coward she didn't even see. "Although she didn't know what was happening - she knew she had to run." Describing his daughter as his "hero", the father said she remained "the positive, caring, funny, enthusiastic, courageous girl she always was". He said: "She wears her scars with a dignity and defiance that is remarkable." One mum, whose seven-year-old daughter C8 was injured, said she was at work when she received a "panicked phone call" from her friend's mum. She told how she rushed to the scene and saw "something no parent should ever see". The mum said her daughter, who suffered injuries to her arm and face, could not be left alone any more and only felt safe with a small number of people. She continued: "I am grateful beyond words that she survived. But what she went through, what she saw and what she continues to carry has changed everything." Another mum sobbed as she told how her daughter and the girls involved deserve the truth, accountability, an apology and the promise changes will be made. She revealed she is "terrified" for her daughter to learn what the inquiry finds as it will be "earth-shattering for her and we will have to begin her recovery again". The mum added: "We are trying to shield her as much as possible whilst we understand this ourselves. "She has every right to ask these questions. This inquiry must answer them." Retired senior judge Sir Adrian Fulford is leading the review, which has now been formally postponed until September. He has made the decision not to name the killer and instead refer to him as AR. In his opening statement, the chairman said Rudakubana's actions were 'almost unimaginable but nonetheless mercilessly calculated'. The inquiry has been split into two phases, with the first focusing on the circumstances leading to the attack and AR's contact with Prevent. Sir Adrian will now examine how young people are "drawn into extreme violence" during the second phase. Following the horror, it emerged the killer had a "sickening interest in death" and had made chilling searches for school massacres before carrying out the rampage. His morbid fascination saw him flagged three times to anti-terror programme Prevent but no further action was taken. What happened in Southport? THE horror unfolded last summer as 26 excited children gathered for the dance class to kick off the summer holidays. The two-hour event had been organised by instructors Leanne Lucas and Heidi Liddle at The Hart Space. Just three miles away, Rudakubana had armed himself with a 20cm knife. Chilling footage showed the killer pacing outside his home before being picked up in a taxi. Just 30 minutes later, he arrived at the community centre as the children sang Taylor Swift songs and made friendship bracelets. Leanne opened a window due to the summer heat and saw the masked teen outside but thought nothing of it. But seconds later, the door opened and Rudakubana stormed into the class and began attacking children and adults at random. Screams rang out as the killer teen systematically made his way through the room stabbing his victims with the black-handled Cerbera kitchen knife. Hero dance teacher Leanne was stabbed in the arms, neck and back as she used her body to shield young girls from the knifeman. She screamed at the children to "run away" Her colleague Heidi Liddle escaped uninjured after bravely locking some of the children inside a toilet. Businessman Jonathan Hayes, who was working in the office next door, was attacked after he ran inside and tried to stop the carnage. At 11.57am - 12 minutes after the rampage began - police stormed the scene. Officers found Rudakubana holding the large, bloodied kitchen knife and he was arrested. After the horror attack, the teen said "I'm glad they're dead" as he was held in a custody suite. As a result, the killer was free to storm the Hart Space community centre and begin senselessly knifing terrified children and adults. A rapid review into his contact with Prevent found his case should have been kept open. It also concluded Rudakubana should have been referred to Channel, another anti-terror scheme. The killer pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and ten of attempted murder. He also admitted two terror offences after police found ricin and an Al-Qaeda manual at his home. Despite this, cops are still not treating the attack as terror-related. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 52 years following the horrific triple murder but will likely never be released.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Children should not be strip-searched or detained unless a last resort, say MPs
Children should not be detained in custody unless arrested for a serious crime and strip-searched only under truly exceptional circumstances, two parliamentary reports have said. Harrowing testimonies of children in England and Wales who were strip-searched and who accused police of racism and making damaging, disrespectful comments are included in the research for the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on children in police custody. The reports – the culmination of a year's research involving children, police forces and parents – were released days after the sacking of two Metropolitan police officers who were involved in the strip-search of a schoolgirl who become known as Child Q. While a police misconduct hearing found that racism was not a factor in that incident, the research gives voice to young people who said that racism was a factor in their strip-searches. Children as young as 10 in England and Wales are currently subject to the same processes and have essentially the same protections as adults when they are detained in police custody. Instead, the MPs on the group say that police detention should be the last resort for a child and that any initial detention period should be limited to 12 hours – half of the time that adults can be held before they must be charged or released. Dr Miranda Bevan, a law lecturer at King's College London who led an inquiry for the APPG, said that children who were detained were disproportionately likely to have special educational or communication needs, to have been exploited or suffered victimisation, and to have been known to mental health authorities. 'Yet these children – some as young as 10 – are being left alone in a police cell, with very limited adult support, for up to 24 hours,' she said. 'They are expected to decide whether or not they want to accept legal representation; a decision that they should not be asked to make in those circumstances. 'We must reshape police custody into a space that recognises and responds to the unique needs of children. Reform must be rooted in evidence, and that evidence starts with listening to children and examining their experiences.' The APPG puts forward 10 recommendations, including a ban on strip-searching children unless under truly exceptional circumstances and making it a requirement that legal advice be provided for all children detained in police custody. Evidence was taken from police forces volunteers and experts in the field while first-hand accounts were given to the APPG by 10 children who had been strip-searched. 'They took all my clothes off me … They didn't give me a chance to suggest anything else they could do instead,' said one. Making an allegation about a cavity search, they said: 'She didn't say nothing about it. I just felt it. I know that's not meant to happen … There wasn't no appropriate adult. I had to wait til the next day to have one. While this was happening, I was saying bad words. They charged me for that. 'I get flashbacks of it for sure … My dignity has just been taken.' Another whose testimony was cited, and who said that there had been a racist dimension to their treatment, said: 'I felt a hatred. I actually was very angry because I felt like I could do nothing about it … Racial slurs or whatever else I've been called when I've been grabbed in searches and whatever else. 'I've been called a 'spear chucking N-word' and I've been called the Middle Eastern racial slur for Pakistanis.' Alex Carlile, a barrister and officer of the APPG, said: 'Children are not miniature adults – they are vulnerable, developing individuals who must be treated as such when they come into contact with the criminal justice system.'
ITV News
01-07-2025
- ITV News
New police technology to help to visualise bruising in darker skin
The Mayor of London has praised new police technology which helps to visualise bruising in darker skin, unveiled as part of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls. Sir Sadiq Khan said the device developed by the Metropolitan Police was an example of 'how much the police has changed in the last few years'. The devices, known as Project Archway, allow officers to better assess victims' injuries, particularly on darker skin, by making it easier to photograph and visualise bruising. The mayor was shown the new technology on Monday and spoke with Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and officers who are piloting the devices. The handheld device is the first of its kind to be developed and uses a technique called cross-polarisation to make injuries clearer that may not appear to the naked eye. Of 33 uses during a pilot in south London, 45% have resulted in charges, with several others under investigation, the Met Police said. The device has undergone ethical scrutiny and wide consultation, including input from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Black Police Association, and the Met Ethics Board. Officers are specially trained prior to use and can only use the device with full consent from victims. Alongside the force's V100 programme, which targets the most dangerous offenders and has already resulted in 129 convictions and 154 serious charges, the technology is part of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, following the publication of its three-year progress report on Tuesday. Sir Sadiq said that police were responding to the concerns of victims of colour. He said: 'I completely understand why ethnic minority and women Londoners have had less confidence in the police service and one of the missions of the police service with my support – and challenge – is to make sure we address the concerns that those Londoners have. 'I think what today shows is just how much the police has changed, and is responding to a legitimate concern raised by victims and survivors, particularly ethnic minority victims and survivors.' Sir Sadiq added: 'It's really important to acknowledge the progress made. Similarly, the response last week from the Met Police Service and the commissioner to the hearing into Child Q is significant; a recognition of the systemic issues last week from the police service. That wouldn't have been the case a few years ago.' Two Metropolitan Police officers were sacked last week after they were found to have committed gross misconduct during the 'disproportionate' strip search of a 15-year-old black girl at school, who was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis. Commander Kevin Southworth said while the officers involved did not act correctly, there were organisational failings with training around strip-searches said to be 'inadequate' and oversight of the power 'severely lacking'. Sir Sadiq said that while impressive, the new technology and work to help victims of colour did not been there was not more work to be done. Sir Sadiq said: 'It's not mission accomplished. Neither myself nor the commissioner are complacent about the need for further reform, about the need for further work, about the need to win over those Londoners who still aren't sure about the Met Police Service.' He called for work to tackle misogyny to begin in schools and for it to be classed as a hate crime by Parliament. Sir Sadiq added: 'We need to recognise that ending the violence against women and girls, ending misogyny, can't start and stop with the police. It needs a whole society approach. It's really important that employers understand the concerns the female staff have, but also pubs, bars, music venues, music festivals need to be safe for women and girls. There's responsibility for us as men to provide allyship to women and girls. 'There is a role for the criminal justice system to do far better. It can't be right in 2025 in one of the most progressive countries in the world, if you're a woman or a girl, you're scared to go out.' Sir Mark said the force was improving its response to victims of violence against women and girls. He told the PA news agency: 'This new technology is just one example of how we're day-by-day improving our response to victims of violence against women and girls. 'A very basic requirement is to be able to get great evidence of an assault, that might be a bruise or a scratch. 'It's not always easy to photograph it. It depends on the light, depends on a whole range of factors. It also sometimes depends on the colour of skin – darker skin sometimes showing bruising less readily. 'Recognising this problem, our forensic experts have designed this special lighting technology.' He said the tests had resulted in more prosecutions and that he wanted it to be expanded to the rest of London and in future, the country.
Glasgow Times
01-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Mayor says device to assess bruising to darker skin shows police have changed
Sir Sadiq Khan said the device developed by the Metropolitan Police was an example of 'how much the police has changed in the last few years'. The devices, known as Project Archway, allow officers to better assess victims' injuries, particularly on darker skin, by making it easier to photograph and visualise bruising. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley showed the new technology to Sir Sadiq Khan (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The mayor was shown the new technology on Monday and spoke with Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and officers who are piloting the devices. The handheld device is the first of its kind to be developed and uses a technique called cross-polarisation to make injuries clearer that may not appear to the naked eye. Of 33 uses during a pilot in south London, 45% have resulted in charges, with several others under investigation, the Met Police said. The device has undergone ethical scrutiny and wide consultation, including input from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Black Police Association, and the Met Ethics Board. Officers are specially trained prior to use and can only use the device with full consent from victims. Alongside the force's V100 programme, which targets the most dangerous offenders and has already resulted in 129 convictions and 154 serious charges, the technology is part of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, following the publication of its three-year progress report on Tuesday. Sir Sadiq told the PA news agency that police were responding to the concerns of victims of colour. He said: 'I completely understand why ethnic minority and women Londoners have had less confidence in the police service and one of the missions of the police service with my support – and challenge – is to make sure we address the concerns that those Londoners have. 'I think what today shows is just how much the police has changed, and is responding to a legitimate concern raised by victims and survivors, particularly ethnic minority victims and survivors.' Sir Sadiq added: 'It's really important to acknowledge the progress made. Similarly, the response last week from the Met Police Service and the commissioner to the hearing into Child Q is significant; a recognition of the systemic issues last week from the police service. That wouldn't have been the case a few years ago.' Two Metropolitan Police officers were sacked last week after they were found to have committed gross misconduct during the 'disproportionate' strip search of a 15-year-old black girl at school, who was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis. Commander Kevin Southworth said while the officers involved did not act correctly, there were organisational failings with training around strip-searches said to be 'inadequate' and oversight of the power 'severely lacking'. The device, known as Project Archway, allows officers to better assess victims' injuries in the ongoing fight against violence towards women and girls (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Sir Sadiq said that while impressive, the new technology and work to help victims of colour did not been there was not more work to be done. Sir Sadiq said: 'It's not mission accomplished. Neither myself nor the commissioner are complacent about the need for further reform, about the need for further work, about the need to win over those Londoners who still aren't sure about the Met Police Service.' He called for work to tackle misogyny to begin in schools and for it to be classed as a hate crime by Parliament. Sir Sadiq added: 'We need to recognise that ending the violence against women and girls, ending misogyny, can't start and stop with the police. It needs a whole society approach. It's really important that employers understand the concerns the female staff have, but also pubs, bars, music venues, music festivals need to be safe for women and girls. There's responsibility for us as men to provide allyship to women and girls. 'There is a role for the criminal justice system to do far better. It can't be right in 2025 in one of the most progressive countries in the world, if you're a woman or a girl, you're scared to go out.' Sir Mark said the force was improving its response to victims of violence against women and girls. He told the PA news agency: 'This new technology is just one example of how we're day-by-day improving our response to victims of violence against women and girls. 'A very basic requirement is to be able to get great evidence of an assault, that might be a bruise or a scratch. 'It's not always easy to photograph it. It depends on the light, depends on a whole range of factors. It also sometimes depends on the colour of skin – darker skin sometimes showing bruising less readily. 'Recognising this problem, our forensic experts have designed this special lighting technology.' He said the tests had resulted in more prosecutions and that he wanted it to be expanded to the rest of London and in future, the country.
