Child strip searches in the South West falling but safeguarding remains a problem
The Children's Commissioner has revealed there were over 3,000 strip searches on children over five years
Last updated 19th Aug 2024
A new report has been published by the Children's Commissioner - who says that safeguarding young people in strip searches 'continues to be a problem' - that's despite a reduction in the number of searches taking place.
Across the South West of England, the number of child strip searches carried out totalled 28 between July 2022 and June 2023 - which represents a reduction of 1 per cent compared to the year before.
The share of total child strip searches is also proportionally lower than other regions - as, despite the population of the South West representing 9% of England and Wales, the South West's statistics only represented 6% of the total searches.
Across the country, a report from the Children's Commissioner found that a total of 3,368 searches of children took place across 44 police forces, including the British Transport Police.
The instances took place between January of 2018 and June of 2023, according to data provided by police forces across England and Wales.
Across the South West:
- Avon and Somerset Police conducted fewer than 10 searches
- Devon and Cornwall Police conducted fewer than 10 searches
- Gloucestershire Police conducted fewer than 10 searches
- Wiltshire Police conducted fewer than 10 searches
The report was commissioned by Dame Rachel de Souza, who had used her statutory powers to order the investigation over the period.
As well as this, the report was prompted following the controversial strip search of Child Q, a 15-year-old schoolgirl who was strip searched in 2020 after being wrongly accused of possession of cannabis.
The girl, who is Black, was strip searched whilst on her period - with the strip search taking place with no appropriate adult present during the incident at a school in Hackney.
Following the publication of the details, New Scotland Yard apologised to the girl for their conduct in the search.
Looking back on the incident, Dame Rachel said that the incident, which came to light two years after it took place, was "shocking" and something that should not happen.
The results of the report showed there was a "sharp reduction" in the number of all searches in London from 2021 onwards.
On a nationwide scale, figures showed that the number of strip searches - described as exposing private parts of a child - was 42% lower compared to figures from 2020.
It was also revealed that Black children would be four times more likely to be stopped and searched in England and Wales compared to national figures.
Speaking on the results, Dame Rachel praised police forces for dealing with child strip searches in a more professional manner.
"I am particularly reassured by the progress in London by the Metropolitan Police, but today's research serves as a stark reminder that this is not an isolated issue in the capital," she said.
"A much higher threshold should be met before a child is subjected to a humiliating and traumatising intimate search."
England accounted for a total of 88% of child searches between 2018 and 2022, with Wales making up the remaining 12%.
Initial data showed Dyfed-Powys was the police force area with the highest search rate of 0.07 searches per 10,000.
This was followed by Merseyside and Northamptonshire (both 0.04), Durham (0.03) and Suffolk (0.02).
Wales's child strip search rate of 1.72 searches per 10,000 10 to 17-year-olds was around six times higher than the lowest rate, in Yorkshire and the Humber (0.3 per 10,000) for the period from July 2022 to June 2023.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for ethics and integrity, welcomed the results of the report and called on police forces to ensure safety remains top priority.
"Police have an important role in ensuring the safety of young and vulnerable people and that each interaction with them is fair and handled with sensitivity," he said.
"If an officer considers it necessary to search a child, this must be carried out in line with legislation, policy, and procedure and that safeguards are in place."