Child Q: Hackney school apologises after black girl, 15, strip-searched

25 March 2022, 21:28

The east London school has apologised for the incident.
The east London school has apologised for the incident (stock photo). Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

The governing body of a Hackney school has apologised after a 15-year-old black girl - known as Child Q - was strip-searched in the middle of an exam.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Child Q was pulled out of an exam by police and put through the invasive strip-search while on her period, a safeguarding report said. Her parents were not informed and no drugs were found.

The report found the search was unjustified and racism was "likely" to have been a factor in the search.

However, the governing board said the school "was not aware that a strip-search was taking place".

They said in a statement: "The incident involving Child Q is harrowing, and we understand and share the sadness and anger that is being felt by the community.

"While the school was not aware that a strip-search was taking place, we wholly accept that the child should not have been left in the situation that she was.

"For this, we have offered a full and formal apology to Child Q and her family, and continue to work with them to provide what support we can."

Scotland Yard previously apologised and said the incident, which took place at the end of 2020, "should never have happened".

Two police officers involved in the strip-search of the girl have since been removed from frontline duties, the Met confirmed.

Read more: Revealed: Most children strip-searched by Met come from ethnic backgrounds

Read more: Two officers involved in Child Q strip search removed from frontline duties

Sarah Jones on Child Q and govt response to strip search

It comes as the school's head teacher has faced calls to resign following the incident.

Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville said he lacked "confidence in the current leadership of the school".

He added: "We ask that the Headteacher should stand down and allow that school & its community the new start it needs to heal from this traumatic experience and by doing so also fully recognise the traumatic impact on Child Q and her family."

LBC revealed on Friday that most strip-searches carried out by the Met were on those from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Of the 5,279 children searched in the past three years, three quarters were from ethnically diverse backgrounds, with 16 of them being aged between 10 and 12 years old.

The data only covered children who were strip-searched after an arrest, including 2,000 for drug offences, meaning the real number of youths strip-searched in London is likely to be even higher.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Breaking News

Sixth person dies in Laos ‘methanol mass poisoning’ as hostel owner detained by police

Exclusive
Feargal Sharkey tests the River Test with LBC

'We're destroying what should be the finest river on Earth': Feargal Sharkey tests the River Test with LBC

Household energy bills will rise again from January

Household energy bills to rise by £21 a year from January in further blow for Brits this winter

Putin issued a chilling threat to the West as he confirmed Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine

'The world must respond': Zelenskyy warns that Putin is 'testing' the West after confirmed use of new ballistic missile

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump nominates Pam Bondi for attorney general hours after Matt Gaetz withdraws

Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Netanyahu faces arrest if he travels to Britain as Starmer vows to enforce International Criminal Court warrant

Yvette Cooper has branded the Rwanda scheme a "complete con."

Yvette Cooper to crack down on anti-social behaviour with new 'respect orders' as repeat offenders face jail time

King Charles III And Queen Camilla on Coronation Day

King Charles' coronation cost taxpayer £72 million, report reveals

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City

Pep Guardiola signs two-year contract extension with Manchester City

Captain Tom's Daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Behaviour at Captain Tom charity left ex-boss 'gobsmacked'

Armed robbers attempted to break into the star's Sunderland home.

Masked machete-wielding robbers break into Charlotte Crosby's home while she is upstairs with two-year-old daughter

Police have released new CCTV of Harshita Brella and her husband

Chilling CCTV released of Harshita Brella and prime murder suspect husband on night she was killed

First photos of Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special as James Corden and Ruth Jones mark triumphant finale

First photos of Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special as James Corden and Ruth Jones mark show's triumphant finale

King Charles performs a Hongi, a traditional Maori greeting, with Mere Takoko

King Charles shares traditional Maori nose rub greeting with activist as he launches environmental charity

Putin issued a chilling threat to the West as he confirmed Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine

Putin issues chilling warning to UK and US as he confirms Russia hit Ukraine with new 'experimental' ballistic missile

Telegraph writer Allison Pearson.

Police drop investigation into journalist Allison Pearson over tweet - as review to be launched over handling of case