Failure to prioritise anti-racism and safeguarding across all public bodies could risk incidents similar to the horrific Child Q case, a report has warned.
A Black schoolgirl in Hackney known as Child Q was strip-searched by Met Police officers on school premises in 2020 after teachers wrongly suspected her of carrying drugs. The search, involving exposure of her intimate body parts, was done without her parents’ consent or knowledge, and without another adult in the room.
Police were aware that Child Q was on her period, and the 15-year-old was forced to remove her sanitary towel. She denied using or having any drugs in her possession. Following the search, no drugs were found on her.
