Met Police Sack Officers Over Child Q Strip Search in Hackney

Key Points

• Two Metropolitan Police officers, Trainee Detective Constable Kristina Linge and Police Constable Rafal Szmydynski, were sacked for gross misconduct after strip-searching a 15-year-old black schoolgirl known as Child Q at a school in Hackney, east London, on 3 December 2020.
• The search occurred after school staff suspected Child Q of possessing cannabis following a smell and a prior incident; no drugs were found in initial bag and outer clothing searches by staff or the subsequent police strip search.
• The intimate strip search involved removal of all clothing including underwear, bending over, and exposure of intimate body parts, conducted by two female officers while Child Q was menstruating, leaving her feeling demeaning, physically violated, humiliated, and degraded.​
• No authorisation was sought from a senior officer, no appropriate adult was present during the search, Child Q’s mother was not informed, and no copy of the search record was provided to the child, breaching police policy, training, and standards on duties, responsibilities, authority, respect, courtesy, orders, and child protection.
• The misconduct panel, chaired by Commander Jason Prins, ruled the search disproportionate, inappropriate, unnecessary, causing enormous harm to Child Q and significant damage to community trust in policing; no finding of race as a factor or adultification bias.​
• A third officer, PC Victoria Wray, found guilty of misconduct (not gross), receiving a final written warning for two years for failing to assess proportionality and authorisation.
• A fourth officer faces a separate lower-level disciplinary for absence of appropriate adult.​
• Child Q’s family and supporters believe racism influenced the search, citing adultification bias and disproportionate treatment of Black children; sparked protests in 2022 and national scrutiny.
• IOPC investigated from May 2021, presented the four-week hearing in June 2025, issued recommendations for national review of strip search practices and legislative changes.
• Met Police acknowledged organisational failings in training and oversight, apologised to Child Q and family, noting the case as catalyst for change.

Hackney, East London (East London Times) 26 June 2025 – Two Metropolitan Police officers have been dismissed without notice for gross misconduct after conducting a traumatic strip search on a 15-year-old black schoolgirl known as Child Q while she was on her period at a school in Hackney. The incident occurred on 3 December 2020, following suspicions of cannabis possession, and involved the exposure of intimate body parts without proper safeguards, as ruled by a disciplinary panel chaired by Commander Jason Prins. The panel determined the search was disproportionate, inappropriate, and unnecessary, breaching multiple police standards and causing profound harm to the victim and public trust.

What Happened During the Strip Search of Child Q?

The search took place after school staff, concerned by a strong smell of cannabis from Child Q—a few weeks after a similar incident—searched her bag and outer clothing, finding nothing, and called police. As detailed in the IOPC investigation report, two female officers, T/DC Kristina Linge and another, then performed an intimate strip search under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in the school medical room, requiring Child Q to remove all clothing including underwear, bend over, and expose intimate parts, while two male officers and staff remained outside.

No drugs were found, and the girl was menstruating, amplifying the trauma. As reported by Sky News journalists, the search left Child Q feeling “demeaned” and “physically violated,” with the panel noting it was “humiliating for the child and made her feel degraded.” Police Constable Rafal Szmydynski and PC Victoria Wray were among the officers present, with Szmydynski and Linge directly involved in decisions.

Why Were the Officers Sacked for Gross Misconduct?

At the conclusion of a four-week misconduct hearing in June 2025, presented by the IOPC, the panel found T/DC Kristina Linge and PC Rafal Szmydynski guilty of gross misconduct, breaching standards on duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy, orders and instructions, and discreditable conduct. They were dismissed without notice, as announced by the Metropolitan Police.

Commander Jason Prins, chair of the panel, stated the actions caused “enormous harm” to Child Q and “significant harm to the community in trusting the police.” PC Victoria Wray was found guilty of misconduct for not considering if the search was disproportionate or if authorisation existed, receiving a final written warning for two years. The panel explicitly did not find breaches relating to equality and diversity or honesty, nor that race was an effective cause.​

What Safeguards Were Missing in Child Q’s Case?

Authorisation from a senior officer was not obtained prior to the intimate search, no appropriate adult was present despite Child Q’s age and vulnerability, and her mother was not informed at the time. The officers failed to provide Child Q with a copy of the search record, all in direct breach of training and policy, and did not respect her rights as a child or provide proper protection.

As per the IOPC’s timeline, a complaint by Child Q’s mother on 8 January 2021 triggered a Met investigation, followed by school governors’ complaint in March 2021, leading to IOPC referral in May 2021. IOPC Director Amanda Rowe said:

“Their decision to strip search a 15-year-old at school on suspicion of a small amount of cannabis was completely disproportionate. They failed to follow the policies that exist to ensure that children in these situations have appropriate protective measures in place.”​

How Has the Metropolitan Police Responded to the Child Q Incident?

Commander Kevin Southworth, on behalf of the Met Police, stated:

“The experience of Child Q should never have happened and was truly regrettable… We have sincerely apologised to Child Q since this incident happened. Again, I am deeply sorry to Child Q and her family for the trauma that we caused her, and the damage this incident caused to the trust and confidence Black communities across London have in our officers.”

The force acknowledged:

“While the officers involved did not act correctly, we acknowledge there were organisational failings. Training to our officers around strip search… was inadequate, and our oversight of the power was also severely lacking. This left officers, often young in service or junior in rank, making difficult decisions… with little… support.”

The Met noted the case as a “catalyst for change both for the Met and for policing nationally.”

What Is the IOPC’s View and Broader Impact?

IOPC Director Amanda Rowe expressed:

“Our sympathies remain with the young woman, who was a child at the time, and her family… We know this incident has had a significant and long-lasting impact on her wellbeing. This case also led to widespread public concern… on trust and confidence in policing.”​

The IOPC issued nationwide recommendations, including a College of Policing review of stop and search practices and Home Office amendments for mandatory safeguarding referrals post-intimate searches. Rowe added:

“We have been continuing to liaise with the Home Office… We are pleased that this is being progressed and look forward to the law being changed so that children are better safeguarded.”​

Did Racism Play a Role in the Strip Search?

The panel found no inference that race was an effective cause, per Commander Jason Prins. However, a Hackney review recognised:

“Racism was likely to have influenced the decision… Black and Global Majority children continue to be treated disproportionately. Child Q and her family strongly believe this was a racist incident. Adultification bias… meant that Child Q was not treated… appropriate for her age.”

The case, publicised in March 2022, sparked protests against institutional racism, as demonstrators highlighted during campaigns. Child Q recently told BBC: she is unsure she will “feel normal again.”

What Is the Full Timeline of the Child Q Case?

Key dates include: 3 December 2020 – strip search; 8 January 2021 – mother’s complaint; March 2021 – school complaint; May 2021 – IOPC investigation starts; July 2023 – investigation ends; September 2023 – charges confirmed; June 2025 – hearing concludes with sackings.

A fourth officer’s misconduct meeting is pending. The hearing followed extensive preparation, with over 4,500 pages of evidence.​

What Changes Have Resulted from Child Q’s Strip Search?

The incident prompted Met acceptance of prior IOPC recommendations in 2022, national scrutiny by the Children’s Commissioner on 2,847 child strip searches (2020 data), and Hackney scrutiny meetings. It catalysed reviews, with Young Hackney advising on racism complaints.

Police Professional reported the panel’s findings on breaches, emphasising child rights failures. Broader IOPC probes into Met child searches continue.