London police strip-searched 15-year-old girl: officers dismissed for gross misconduct

26 June 2025 , 18:06
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London police strip-searched 15-year-old girl: officers dismissed for gross misconduct
London police strip-searched 15-year-old girl: officers dismissed for gross misconduct

Two officers from the Metropolitan Police have been dismissed for gross misconduct after the strip search of a 15-year-old black girl.

The Met found two officers guilty of gross misconduct and a third guilty of misconduct over the search of Child Q. 

The incident saw Child Q searched at her school in Hackney, east London, in December 2020 after school staff reported a ’smell of cannabis’.

Trainee detective constable Kristina Linge and Pc Rafal Szmydynski were sacked today after a disciplinary panel found their actions over the "disproportionate" and "humiliating" strip search of the girl amounted to gross misconduct.

The search of Child Q was described as "unjustified", "inappropriate", "humiliating" and "degrading".

Staff at the school had called the police following concerns that a 15-year-old girl smelled strongly of cannabis and may have been in possession of drugs.

The two officers then conducted a thorough search of the girl in the medical room at the school, exposing her intimate parts.

No drugs were found.

Editorial Team

Emma Davis

Deputy Editor

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