Two Met Officers Dismissed Over Strip-Search of Schoolgirl as Calls for Reform Grow

In a case that has renewed serious concerns about police behaviour and child protection, two officers from the Metropolitan Police have been dismissed for their involvement in the strip-search of a 15-year-old Black schoolgirl, referred to publicly as Child Q. The incident occurred in December 2020 at the girl’s school in Hackney, where staff had suspected she smelled of cannabis. The search, carried out by officers without an appropriate adult present and while the girl was menstruating, was later deemed by investigators as unjustified and in clear violation of police safeguarding policies.

Following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the officers involved were found to have committed gross misconduct. The disciplinary panel concluded that the search was “disproportionate, inappropriate and unnecessary.” No drugs were found, and the experience left the teenager traumatized, leading to ongoing struggles with anxiety and post-traumatic stress.

The two officers directly involved, PC Rafal Szmydynski and trainee detective Kristina Linge, were dismissed from the force without notice. A third officer, PC Victoria Wray, received a final written warning. While not directly involved in the search, she was found to have failed in her responsibility to challenge the actions taking place.

The case has prompted widespread concern about how police interact with children, especially in educational settings. It also raises questions about racial disparities in policing, as statistics continue to show that Black children are disproportionately subjected to more invasive procedures. The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, described the incident as “one of the most shocking” examples of child treatment by police she has encountered.

The Metropolitan Police has since issued a public apology, acknowledging serious failings in both judgment and safeguarding practice. Commander Kevin Southworth offered a direct apology to Child Q and her family, stating that the force must work to rebuild trust, particularly within the communities most affected.

While the dismissals mark a measure of accountability, calls for wider reform remain. Advocacy groups and officials are urging clearer policies, improved training, and greater oversight to ensure that no child is subjected to such treatment again.

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