Child Q: Hundreds Of Protesters In March For Schoolgirl, 15, Strip-Searched While On Period

Hundreds of protesters, including MP Diane Abbot marched through east London on Sunday in support of Child Q.

The black schoolgirl was strip-searched by police officers while on her period after a false accusation of drug possession.

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The 15-year-old's family is suing the Metropolitan Police and her school over the incident, which happened in December 2020.

It came to light this month in a safeguarding report, which found that racism "was likely to have been an influencing factor".

Demonstrators marched from Stoke Newington Police Station to Hackney Town Hall chanting "power to black girl Child Q" and "safe schools", while carrying placards with messages including "protect black kids" and "shame on you".

Jacqueline Courtenay, who helped to organise the protest, told Sky News:

"When I heard about this story I was so affected by the detail and the severity of the way that this child was handled.

"I felt numb, I felt a chill wash over me.

"And I thought 'what better way to show support?' Because that's what you need when you've been dehumanised in such a way."

'We need to look at the rules and procedures in schools'

Diane Abbott, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, was among the speakers who addressed the crowds and received loud cheers when she criticised the girl's school, saying it is "almost as bad" as the officers involved.

"What I want to happen is there be some sort of sanction on the police officers and the teachers involved," she told Sky News after her speech.

"And I think we need to look at the rules and procedures in schools about letting police officers into schools."

Having demanded an urgent meeting with police, Ms Abbott confirmed she will see the Hackney borough commander next week.

The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review, conducted by City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership, revealed that the teenager was pulled out of an exam to be searched after teachers called the police.

Two female officers conducted the strip search, in which the schoolgirl's intimate body parts were exposed and she was made to take off her sanitary towel, according to the review.

Family members described her as changing from a "happy-go-lucky girl to a timid recluse that hardly speaks", who now self-harms and needs therapy.

Scotland Yard has apologised over the incident and said it "should never have happened".

The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) has investigated three police officers for misconduct.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wrote to the IOPC on Wednesday to argue that the officers involved should be charged with gross misconduct rather than misconduct, because of the review's finding that racism had a role in the decision to conduct the strip search.