Black children eight times more likely to be strip searched, report finds

The Children's Commissioner published the report on strip searches of children. The National Police Chiefs' Council indicated updates to stop-and-search guidance are out for public consultation to ensure a child-centred approach, emphasizing safeguarding, de-escalation, and dignity.

In 2025, Scotland Yard described the Child Q case as regrettable; two Met Police officers involved were dismissed without notice for gross misconduct, and a third received a final written warning.

Within the July 2023–June 2024 period, 22 strip searches were conducted without an appropriate adult present.

Almost one fifth of all stop and searches resulted in a use of force; 46% of these instances ended with no further action. The report notes racial disparities in force, with Black children over-represented relative to their population share.

Black children are eight times more likely to be strip searched than White peers; Black children accounted for 35% of strip searches while representing about 6% of the 2021 census population of 10-17 year-olds.

In 2024, an estimated 377 strip searches occurred in England and Wales, down 56% from 854 in 2020. The report notes persistent ethnic disparities in strip searches and in the use of force.

Data from the period July 2023 to June 2024 show 26 strip searches recorded in public view.

Public protests followed the safeguarding report concerning Child Q, which found the search unjustified and racism likely to have been a factor.

The report cites the 2021 census indicating that Black children make up about 6% of the population aged 10-17, yet they account for a disproportionate share of strip searches.

A Black 15-year-old girl was strip searched at her school in Hackney in December 2020; she was on her period and no appropriate adult was present during the search.

The report notes that 854 strip searches were recorded in 2020 in England and Wales, establishing a baseline for later comparisons.