Strip searches

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/24/2280

Version Date: 29/08/2024

The Performance & Analysis and Professional Standards Departments have provided the following information.

Please can you provide the following information, broken down by financial year for 2023-24, 2022-23, and 2021-22:

We have pulled stop and search strip searches from the strop and search reports within Niche Crime and have pulled custody strip searches from the Niche Custody database. 

The number of strip searches carried out by police.

	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24
Stop & Search – Partial strip	9	7	6
Stop & Search – Full strip	126	110	90
Custody strip search	1859	947	421
Total	1994	1064	517

 

Of these, how many were carried out on someone 10-17 years old?

	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24
Stop & Search – Partial strip	0	0	1
Stop & Search – Full strip	17	5	2
Custody strip search	96	37	13
Total	113	42	16

 

Of these, how many were carried out on someone under-10 years old?

	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24
Stop & Search – Partial strip	0	0	0
Stop & Search – Full strip	0	0	0
Custody strip search	0	0	0
Total	0	0	0

 

The number of police complaints received about a police strip search.

We have searched for all complaints with a type of “Detention in Police Custody” and “Stops and Stop and Search” that have been recorded for the period 01/04/2021 to 31/03/2024.

The summary field was then reviewed for any complaints relating to strip searches whilst in custody, or strip searches resulting from the use of stop and search powers.

Year	No. of complaints
2021/22	3
2022/23	6
2023/24	4

 

 

Please see the below information that governs our strip searching of children as a result of stop and search which was introduced in April 2023.

Strip Searches Involving Children (stop and search) 

• There will be a presumption that no child under the age of 18 will be ‘strip- searched’. Where such action is considered necessary to protect that child and/or others, then consideration must first be given to placing the child into statutory protection under the Children Act 1989, & contact made with Social Services or an Appropriate Adult to assist in safeguarding of the child.
• Authority to strip search a child MUST be sought from the duty PACE Supt who will record their NDM review. This should occur prior to the search taking place, unless to do so would place the child, another person, or the officer at significant risk. In such circumstances, they should be informed as soon as practicable to ensure follow-up safeguarding action is undertaken.
• The searching officer must be the same sex as the child. The search cannot be conducted in a place where the child can be seen by a person of the opposite sex, except an Appropriate Adult requested by the child.
• An Appropriate Adult must always be present for strip searches of children in custody and under stop and search, except in the most exceptional situations where there is serious risk to the child’s life or welfare. Urgency should be removed as an exception to this requirement and constant supervision should be recommended
• Strip searches may only be conducted at a nearby police station, medical premises, or home address. Schools are specifically excluded as an appropriate location for strip search.
• Parents or guardians of children should be informed in advance of strip or intimate searches of children in custody and under stop and search. Where a child refuses to provide information under stop and search, this should be recorded.
• A safeguarding referral should be made whenever a strip or intimate search of a child is conducted. Where a child refuses to provide information under stop and search, this should be recorded.