Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

This is just shocking (trigger warning -racism)

659 replies

iloverock · 15/03/2022 18:19

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/department-for-education-metropolitan-police-services-scotland-yard-hackney-b988292.html

Please read the formal review.

Essentially the teaching staff called the police because a black 15 year old girl smelt of cannabis. She was taken to a room and strip searched. She was on her period. Her mother wasn't notified. She was not given the opportunity for an appropriate adult to be present.

OP posts:
JeffThePilot · 15/03/2022 19:16

This is absolutely appalling and completely indefensible. There needs to be consequences for the school and police officers.

MurmuratingStarling · 15/03/2022 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link toMessage deleted by MNHQ for repeating deleted post. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines. our

Spudina · 15/03/2022 19:17

Heartbreaking. The school needs naming.

MurmuratingStarling · 15/03/2022 19:18

It is Racism and sexism yes, but fuck-all will happen to stop it because nothing ever does happen. Time after time after TIME, women and girls. and people of colour are getting fucked over by the police, and it never ever stops. It's fucking depressing. Sad Why isn't ANYONE stopping this? Confused

riceuten · 15/03/2022 19:18

@HeadPain

Angry Can she/her family bring a lawsuit?? I hope!
One of the more disgusting aspects of complaining in court against the Police is the Police Federation (the pretend trade union they have) will often countersue if you bring a case to court and state they will go after you for legal costs - this puts a LOT of people off doing so.
HeadPain · 15/03/2022 19:18

“ The search, which involved the exposure of Child Q’s intimate body parts, took place on school premises, without an Appropriate Adult present and with the knowledge that Child Q was menstruating.”

Is this even legal?? Since she’s a child?

“A male and female officer subsequently arrived at the school, followed by another two officers (one of whom was also female). After discussions between the police and teachers, Child Q was escorted to the medical room. She was subsequently strip searched.
1.5 No Appropriate Adult was in attendance, teachers remained outside the room and Child Q’s mother was not contacted in advance. No drugs were found during either the strip search or a search of the room in which Child Q had been waiting beforehand.”

Were male officers involved in this strip seach. Even though women officers just as bad.

Again, is this even legal?????

“1.6 Child Q was later allowed to return home where she disclosed the events to her mother. Child Q described how she had been strip searched whilst menstruating. Due to the level of her distress, Child Q’s mother took her to the family GP who made a referral for psychological support. This led to contact with Hackney Children and Families Services (Hackney CFS)“

They didn’t even contact her mother after either?? She was just sent home after that horrific ordeal.

HEADS NEED TO ROLL.

Everyone need to lose their jobs and never be working with children or in a position of power over others again.

Legal consequences too. I don’t know if there can be criminal ones because of her age ? I hope there can be. Definitely civil lawsuit ?

BOOTS52 · 15/03/2022 19:19

That is shocking and disgusting. At 15 I would have refused and requested my mum no way would I have been searched like that. What is wrong with the school. She is still considered a child and her family should have been called. That would not happen to a white child at all. I would definitely be taking this further if that happened to a child of mine.

HeadPain · 15/03/2022 19:22

@riceuten oh that’s terrible. Maybe if this story receives enough press and condemnation they might not do that? I don’t know, what do you think? Or if there is a gofundme or something to raise money for her/her family. I’m sure there will be A LOT of donations if people get to hear about it.

Anyone know if there is a legit gofundme or something?

Pllink · 15/03/2022 19:25

@MintyFreshBreath ffs there's always one

Laiste · 15/03/2022 19:25

I just don't know where to even start ....

They didn't contact the child's mother ...

They strip searched someone because they smelt cannabis ...

They did this to a 15 year old girl at school ...

I just have no words.

SPRINGAIR · 15/03/2022 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ for repeating deleted post. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Blimpop · 15/03/2022 19:28

So many wrongs. Horrific. Why didn't the teachers, who are supposed to safeguard children protect her, why did the po even think this is ok.
It's heartbreaking, I'm furious this has happened. The poor girl, I don't know how you put that right. I don't think you can.

carefullycourageous · 15/03/2022 19:30

We can know it was racist because the official review said it was racist:
Having considered the context of the incident, the views of those engaged in the review and the impact felt by Child Q and her family, racism (whether deliberate or not) was likely to have been an influencing factor in the decision to undertake a strip search.

I am so fucking sick of this. I am white and I am absolutely sick of this.

Shame on anyone trying to minimise this.

endofthelinefinally · 15/03/2022 19:32

The Met police (and plenty of others) are racist, misogynist and homophobic. We know this and it has been publicised extensively. You would think they would make at least a token effort to try and improve. But no. They clearly do not care.

That poor child has been badly let down and all the adults involved should be ashamed.

Oinkypig · 15/03/2022 19:34

Surely that’s illegal or some kind of assault. I mean I’m not a POC but I can 100% say it I’m sure it was racist so I don’t know what that one previous poster is on about not knowing they would not have done this to a white girl. It’s about people just being used to police being biased and there’s no point complaining as it’ll make things worse so just let them get on with it. I grew up as a catholic in NI in the 80s and there was definitely bad things happening then but I just can’t believe something like this can happen to a young girl in 2020 without those police officers being arrested themselves.

ClaudineClare · 15/03/2022 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ for repeating deleted post. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

TooBigForMyBoots · 15/03/2022 19:34

Dirty, filthy, skanky, racist, child abusers.AngryAngryAngry

The Met is not fit for purpose!

BloodyN0rah · 15/03/2022 19:34

I hadn’t seen this story, it’s so awful, the poor girl. WTF were these adults thinking. They should face assault charges.

newsibling123 · 15/03/2022 19:34

Completely understand why so many black parents have completely given up with state schools. If I had a black child , I'd rather home school than send to a state school, if I couldn't afford private.

I watched the drama (based on reality ) by Small Axe on the BBC, black kids have been labelled as sub-normal in schools since the Windrush days, it still happens today, obviously

PurgatoryOfPotholes · 15/03/2022 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ for repeating deleted post. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 15/03/2022 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ for repeating deleted post. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Summerfun54321 · 15/03/2022 19:36

This is absolutely horrendous. I really hope she manages to sue the school AND the police. Her mum needs to find a good no win no fee lawyer.

LizzieSiddal · 15/03/2022 19:36

Absolutely horrific!! That made me feel sick just reading that and that poor girl had to go through it.

One of the more disgusting aspects of complaining in court against the Police is the Police Federation (the pretend trade union they have) will often countersue if you bring a case to court and state they will go after you for legal costs - this puts a LOT of people off doing so.

Can’t we start a crowd finder for her?!

LuaDipa · 15/03/2022 19:37

How could this ever happen?

Two police women decide that it’s appropriate to strip search a child alone while the teachers of said child sit back and allow it to happen. Everyone involved in this horrific assault against this girl should lose their job. She should have been safe at school.

Maddiemoosmum0203 · 15/03/2022 19:38

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.