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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent

Police believe strip-searching children can be effective, but suspicions of misuse remain

Crowd of protesters with placards complaining about police racism
A protest outside Stoke Newington police station in London in 2022 after a black 15-year-old schoolgirl, referred to as Child Q, was strip-searched by police while menstruating. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

When is it reasonable, necessary and proportionate for agents of the state, such as police officers, to take actions that are likely to leave a child traumatised?

There is little dispute that compelling anyone, let alone a child, to expose their intimate body parts against their will to a stranger causes real emotional pain. But police believe strip-searching can be a useful tool.

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