A Labour MP has questioned the Prime Minister Boris Johnson over whether the Government’s “characteristic dither and delay” response to the Child Q case was acceptable when it concerns child safety. The PM responded to the question, accusing Labour’s Helen Hayes of a “completely ridiculous characterisation”, reports PA.
Speaking In the Commons on Wednesday, the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood asked Boris Johnson “whether he believes that the characteristic dither and delay of his Government in responding to this appalling case is remotely acceptable when it comes to the safety of children?”
Mr Johnson replied: “I think that is a completely ridiculous characterisation of the response of the Government because, of course, the reports of this incident are deeply distressing and deeply concerning. Everybody shares her feelings about that but the Metropolitan Police have rightly apologised and the IOPC is investigating, and for that reason it would not be right to comment further.”
READ MORE:Hackney mayor calls for school’s headteacher to resign after Black girl, 15, strip-searched by police
(Image: House of Commons/PA Wire)
Child Q was strip-searched by female Metropolitan Police officers at her school in 2020 without another adult present and in the knowledge that she was menstruating. The 15-year-old had been wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis. The case has caused outrage from politicians and the public, with London mayor Sadiq Khan sharing his “dismay and disgust”, and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch calling it an “appalling incident”.
Child Q’s ordeal has sparked protests across London over the weekend with hundreds outraged at the treatment she faced. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched its investigation following a complaint in May 2021, and said it had completed its inquiries and was finalising its report.
On Tuesday, mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville – the borough where the incident took place – said that the headteacher of Child Q’s school should stand down. Writing on social media, he said that he and Labour councillor and deputy mayor Anntoinette Bramble had “been in contact with the school that Child Q attended, seeking assurance on the actions that have been taken in response to this horrific incident, and on future work to rebuild trust with students, parents, and the wider community”.
“Since then we’ve sadly only heard more troubling reports from staff, families and young people disturbed about the situation and eager for change. We don’t say this lightly, but we feel we’ve no choice but to express our lack of confidence in the current leadership of the school.”
He added that they both wished “to ask that the headteacher should stand down and allow that school and its community the new start it needs to heal from this traumatic experience and by doing so also fully recognise the traumatic impact on Child Q and her family”.
On December 3, 2020, officers were called by teachers who said that they were concerned that the teenager had drugs in her possession because she smelt of cannabis. Child Q was taken to a medical room and strip-searched by two female officers while teachers remained outside.
The girl’s intimate body parts were exposed and no drugs were found. She was then sent home by taxi, later sharing her distress with her mother.
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