Too many black suspects being strip searched, say police inspectors

STRIP searches are being used too frequently by police with a disproportionate number of black suspects being subjected to “unwarranted and unjustified” naked inspections, inspectors have warned.

An inspection of 15 custody suites in London found that more than 10,000 people were strip searched in a 12-month period, amounting to 16 per cent of detainees.

The joint investigation by prison inspectors and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary said this was “higher than we normally see”.

Frontline police officers said it reflected the growing threat from knife crime and increased use of targeted stop and search which has led to more suspects being strip searched for concealed weapons or blades. The inspectors said it included a high proportion of children under 18, and disproportionately higher number of black and ethnic minority detainees. While they accounted for 25 per cent of those detained, they comprised 51 per cent of those strip searched.

“Not all the strip searches that we saw during the inspection were warranted or properly justified,” said their report. “The governance and oversight of the use of force in custody were not adequate to ensure that all use of force was proportionate and justified for the risk or threat posed.”

Inspectors referred two use of force cases for review and recommended: the use of force in custody should be recorded; accurately reflect the force used and be justified on the custody record. Although the number of strip searches by the Metropolitan Police has stayed steady at about 27,000 a year, the number of more thorough ones has doubled to 5,600 and more intimate ones trebled to 1,900.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation, said strip searches were often necessary for the protection of the suspect who could harm themselves with a smuggled weapon.