Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce new guidance on the use of strip-searches on children.

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes of Practice govern how the police should undertake a strip search. The College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on Stop and Search provides further guidance for the police on the use of strip search.

We expect officers to follow the law and the best practice guidance set by the College of Policing in its APP. Any concerns about the use of strip searches should be raised with the relevant force or the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), who investigate serious matters involving the police. We will consider all recommendations made for the Home Office as a result of these investigations very carefully.