Met Police Admits to Misreporting Number of Traumatic Intimate Searches on Children in 2021
The Metropolitan Police (Met) has admitted to misreporting the number of intimate searches that were carried out on children in 2021.
The Met previously reported the number as 99, but it has now been revealed that the actual number was 269.
The commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has said that the misreporting was due to a "data transmission error".
The search involves exposing intimate parts and can be traumatic for the child.
Caroline Russell, a Green London Assembly Member, has called for more transparency over the number of searches and the presence of an appropriate adult.
The issue was scrutinised by Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, who found "systemic problems" with the transparency and oversight of intimate searches under stop-and-search powers.
The Met has made changes to its policy on intimate searches and will continue to listen and act on feedback.
The commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has said that the misreporting was due to a "data transmission error".
The search involves exposing intimate parts and can be traumatic for the child.
Caroline Russell, a Green London Assembly Member, has called for more transparency over the number of searches and the presence of an appropriate adult.
The issue was scrutinised by Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, who found "systemic problems" with the transparency and oversight of intimate searches under stop-and-search powers.
The Met has made changes to its policy on intimate searches and will continue to listen and act on feedback.