Metropolitan Police: Strip-search of Schoolgirl

Lord Paddick Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd March 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Paddick (LD)]

My Lords, the police strip search of a young black woman, legally a child, in her own school in the absence of an appropriate adult on the basis of her allegedly smelling of cannabis is clearly disproportionate and unacceptable, even if a teacher called the police. Have the officers been suspended, or at least removed from duties involving contact with the public? Have the Government found anyone in the Metropolitan Police who has said that a strip-search in these circumstances must never happen again? As a former Metropolitan Police officer, I am disgusted, appalled and ashamed.

[Noble Lords]

Hear, hear!