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Following the high-profile case of Child Q, a new report by the children’s commissioner finds a shocking disparity with white counterparts in the year 2023.
Child Q, a young 15-year-old black schoolgirl, was unjustifiably and falsely accused of possessing cannabis, then strip searched at school while on her period without an authorised adult present. This led to mass protests in Hackney.
Later, the case was deemed racially motivated and indefensible.
This incident is not an isolated one, with traces of systematic discrimination all across the police system. The BBC reported a tragic story of a young 14-year-old boy who was strip searched without an appropriate adult present and ‘left naked in a cell.’
Four long years on from Child Q’s incident, the children’s commissioner, Rachel de Souza, has released shocking nationwide figures. They indicate internal discrimination within the justice system.
Figures disclosed by a watchdog highlights that black children are four times more likely to be strip searched by the police in England and Wales. Is this serving to justify social stigmas against law and order, especially in ethnic minority communities?
Data that came alongside a Home office consolation explores the long-lasting psychological effects of strip searches, including lower educational attainment, depression, and anxiety.
Rachel de Souza acknowledges that strip searches are both ‘traumatic’ and usually an extreme measure subjected to young people, stating that suspecting a young person smells of drugs is ‘far too low a bar’ to strip search them.
The report showed that 9/10 of reported incidents were drug related, underlining a common agenda.
The Youth Justice Legal Centre’s research shows that many young people see the police as judgemental and too quick to act. The children’s commissioners spotlighted perspective may show a shift towards radical change in the police – in turn, reassuring young people who often distrust institutions.
Dishearteningly, although England accounted for the larger portion of the 88%, or 9/10, Wales had a 6% increase compared to June 2018-2022 figures.
The report significantly underlined the harshness of the police, with children as young as 8 being strip searched every 14 hours. This leaves the public to question if the force is really focusing on the right things, or whether they’re fulfilling a more targeted and discriminatory agenda.
Although the recent data suggests otherwise, Assistant Chief constable, Andrew Mainer stated: ‘Two years on from the shocking case of Child Q, we are seeing progress being made. I welcome this shift, and I am cautiously optimistic about the potential to overcome entrenched systemic challenges.’
The children’s commissioner’s narrative seems to suggest that there’s hope for a more equitable policing system. I guess we’ll see if the data reflects that in the coming years.
