On March 21st, the students of City and Islington protested against the method of stop and search, outside the school building.
Before the conflict, City and Islington issued what the students called a ‘stop and search’, in which each student entering the school building had to press a touchpad that gave out either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Those who got ‘yes’ (around 10-20%) would have their belongings checked for any weapons. The introduction of the security checks acts as a deterrent in an attempt to reduce knife crimes.
The main issue with the method is that some students have felt uncomfortable and criminalised by the security checks. Especially with the past incident of Child Q resurfacing after 2 years.
In 2020, a black schoolgirl was wrongfully suspected of carrying drugs, leading the teachers to call the police on her. They then strip-searched the 15-year-old girl who was on her period, which ended up causing her psychological trauma.
Around 150-200 students protested outside the gates of the college, leaving their lessons to raise support. Some made signs and others gave speeches. The signs which said ‘Honk to stop the search’ caused passing vehicles to beep their horns in support, leading to cheers from the students. The protest lasted from around 10am to 3pm in the afternoon, to which the police came to monitor the protest.
Another protest was scheduled on the 31st of March, though it was cancelled, as the college had listened to their requests and stopped the searches. The students are not against all stop and searches, they are also not supporting the rise of knife crimes, they are however, against the execution of the method as it made students feel more unsafe.
The college is now communicating with the students on possibly installing walk-through metal detectors to prevent disruptions on lessons, physical contact and discrimination.
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