Overview

• A disciplinary panel found PCs Kristina Linge and Rafal Szmydynski guilty of gross misconduct for conducting a strip search of a 15-year-old London schoolgirl in December 2020 and dismissed them without notice.
• PC Victoria Wray was found to have committed misconduct over procedural failures during the search and received a final written warning.
• The panel described the search as disproportionate, inappropriate and humiliating, noting no appropriate adult was present and the girl’s mother was not informed.
• Child Q has spoken publicly of lasting psychological trauma, saying she fears she may never feel normal again and urging reforms to prevent similar harm.
• Metropolitan Police acknowledged organisational failings in training and oversight, issued an apology and has updated its strip search policies for minors.