National recommendation - Home Office, September 2023
We identified national organisational learning from investigations into search procedures.
One search occurred in December 2020 after police were called to a school following suspicions by staff that a child was in possession of cannabis. This followed a search by staff of her bag and outer clothing where no drugs were found.
The child was subject to a search involving the removal of clothing by two female officers under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, while two male officers and school staff remained outside the room where the search took place. No drugs were found during the search.
Our recommendation calls for a substantial review of policing powers under the laws relating to the strip searches of children, to improve safeguarding and prioritise the welfare of minors.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that the Home Office should work with key partners in policing and other relevant stakeholders to complete a substantial review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and PACE Codes A and C in relation to searches of children that include exposure of intimate body parts and, in particular, identify changes that better safeguard children.
This follows a series of IOPC investigations that looked at searches of children involving the exposure of intimate body parts.
Awaiting response