Mum is strip-searched and left naked by police
AINNOCENT mum was strip-searched and thrown naked to the floor of a police cell after she was arrested over an alleged public order offence.
Kay Earles was taken to a police station following her arrest but when she was quizzed about blood on her jacket, officers strip-searched her and left her naked.
The mum-of-three from Macclesfield has now won a payout from Cheshire Police after admitting the conduct of the officers involved fell below standards expected and they have been given further training.
Kay, 44, a catering assistant, had never been arrested before she was detained after a fight broke out in a takeaway following a night out in Macclesfield.
But when the officers got her back to the station in Middlewich they threw her to the floor and ripped her clothes off.
Kay, also a grandmother-of-two, said: “I have never been in trouble with the police before for anything like this and it was scandalous what they did.
“I was told I had blood on my denim jacket and that was because two of us were assaulted in Chilli Jack’s takeaway before I was arrested.
“The detention officer said where is the blood from on your coat? I didn’t realise it was there and my fists were clenched, because I was anxious and stressed.
“This woman then dropped me to the floor. Ruptured all the tendons in my right arm as she pushed it up in the air.
“I needed surgery on the arm and was off work for a week unable to do my job.
“My arm was up behind my back and the custody officer said if you don’t behave we will strip your clothes off. I was horrified at what was happening.
“Two women then took me into the cell and started ripping my clothes off. I was just dumped naked on the floor. There were men around and it was all captured on camera. It was so humiliating.
“They eventually gave me a sheet and a T-shirt and I really couldn’t believe it was happening.
“I was lying there thinking what was all that about?
“People shouldn’t be treated like this. It’s appalling to think you go out for the evening and yet you can end up having your clothes ripped off by women in police uniform.
“If I did it to somebody I would be charged. None of them were charged. Cheshire police sent me a letter saying the officers involved would get further training. I have still got the mental scars.
“They never logged the strip-search stuff and they described the attack on me as ‘soft physical force’.
“None of my friends and family can believe what happened to me.”
Kay always maintained her innocence and denied any wrong doing and the public order case against her was thrown out.
Kay’s solicitor Emma Grantham, of Russell and Co in Malvern, Worcs, who specialise in cases against the police, said: “Kay was subjected to an unjustified strip-search and was left naked in a cell for a period of time, she was completely humiliated. “The CCTV footage from the custody suite records the sergeant threatening Kay with a strip search if she did not comply.
“Obviously it goes without saying that a custody sergeant cannot use a strip-search as a threat to persuade somebody to do something.
“A strip-search must be justified and required to either safeguard the person in custody or staff. This was evidently not the case.”
Chief Inspector Julie Westgate, of Cheshire police, said: “The Constabulary’s Professional Standards department investigated the complaint in relation to being placed in safety clothing. The findings were that her complaint should be upheld.
“We are fully committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those individuals who are detained in our custody.
“When this falls below the standards expected, we review the circumstances to ensure that all procedures were followed and if there are shortcomings take the appropriate action.
“In this case the officers involved were given management action and their performance was reviewed to make sure the health and welfare of detainees are safeguarded.”