A police officer from the Metropolitan force has testified before a misconduct panel that the training provided to officers regarding strip-searches in schools was “inadequate.”

Detective Constable Kristina Linge, Police Constable Victoria Wray, and Police Constable Rafal Szmydynski are all contesting charges of gross misconduct related to their treatment of a minor referred to as Child Q in December 2020.

The 15-year-old girl underwent a strip search at her school in Hackney, east London, after being mistakenly suspected of possessing cannabis.

Police Constable Rajon Rahman, who transported PC Wray to the location and waited outside the medical room during the search, informed the independent panel on Tuesday that the topic of strip-search procedures was “only briefly addressed” in training.

PC Rahman noted, “Details were not thoroughly covered. There was only a mention that it existed.”

“In my view, the training or knowledge provided in Hendon regarding this matter was insufficient.”

The training facility for the Metropolitan Police is situated in Hendon, north London.

PC Rahman stated that prior to this incident, he had not participated in any school searches and had only been involved in “standard” searches—those conducted on individuals in public spaces and those in custody.

The ongoing panel, which is being held in south-east London for three weeks, previously heard that the girl felt “demeaned” and “physically violated” as a result of the search.

It is alleged that the strip search was conducted without proper authorization, without the presence of an appropriate adult, and without adequate consideration of Child Q’s age, gender, or status as a minor, suggesting that her race played a significant role in the situation.

Scotland Yard has already issued an apology regarding the incident.

The misconduct hearing is still in progress.