Metropolitan Police Officers Fired After Strip-Search of Teenager on Her Period
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
Two Metropolitan Police officers have been dismissed without notice following a gross misconduct hearing over the strip-search of a 15-year-old girl while she was on her period. Trainee Detective Constable Kristina Linge and PC Rafal Szmydynski were fired after the disciplinary panel ruled their actions improper. A third officer, PC Victoria Wray, received a final written warning.
The incident occurred on December 3, 2020, at a school in Hackney, London, where the teenager, referred to as Child Q, was searched by police on suspicion of carrying cannabis. Two female officers conducted an invasive search in the school’s medical room, exposing intimate body parts. No drugs were found.
In a statement released through her legal representatives, Child Q described the traumatic impact of the incident: "I can't go a single day without wanting to scream, shout, cry, or just give up. I don't know if I'm going to feel normal again. But I do know this can't happen to anyone, ever again." Her mother questioned whether racial bias played a role, stating, "Professionals wrongly treated my daughter as an adult and as a criminal... Was it because of her skin? Her hair? Why her?"
The disciplinary panel found that the officers failed to consider the psychological impact on a teenager going through puberty and did not involve an appropriate adult during the search. Panel chair Commander Jason Prins stated the search was "improper and conducted without an appropriate adult." While the hearing concluded that race was not a factor in the officers' actions, it acknowledged concerns that Black individuals are disproportionately subjected to stop-and-search procedures.
Commander Kevin Southworth of the Metropolitan Police issued a public apology, admitting "organizational failings" in training and oversight. "The experience of Child Q should never have happened and was truly regrettable," he said. "We have sincerely apologised to Child Q... I am deeply sorry for the trauma we caused her and the damage to trust in Black communities."
The case has sparked widespread criticism and calls for police reform, with Child Q’s mother emphasizing the need for systemic change: "Although I am relieved that two of the officers have been fired, I believe the Metropolitan Police still has a huge amount of work to do to win back the confidence of Black Londoners."
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