On 23 February 2017, my client John (who was just 16) agreed to accompany his brother, Kevin on a trip to Scarborough to drop off Kevin’s girlfriend, Lauren.
Upon arrival at Lauren’s home address in Scarborough, Kevin parked up and he and Lauren went inside leaving John sat in the front passenger seat.
A short while later, a North Yorkshire Police van pulled up close by and a number of officers alighted and surrounded the car in which John was sat before one of them opened the front passenger door and asked him where the driver was. John explained that his brother was the driver, that he was in a house close by and that he would be back soon.
An officer instructed John to step onto the pavement whereupon he was required to provide his name and date of birth, which he did. This confirmed that he was a minor, which should have been apparent in any event.
John was then escorted to a Police van by two officers and told he was to be subjected to a “strip search.”
John was instructed to pull down his track suit bottoms and underwear, whereupon the officers conducted an extremely intimate search. Unfortunately, the search was conducted with wholesale disregard for every significant safeguard guaranteed by PACE including;
- an absence of an appropriate adult;
- no authorisation by a senior officer;
- John was not told of the legal authority for the search;
- no documentation of the search as kept or maintained.
To his complete shock John was then informed that he was under arrest on suspicion of possession of cannabis, irrespective of the fact that no drugs had been found upon him.
John was then transported to Scarborough police station where he was processed, interviewed and eventually released.
I was instructed to pursue a civil claim for compensation on behalf of John. The Chief Constable denied liability, it was necessary to issue court proceedings.
I am pleased to report that following issue, John’s case settled for £10,000.00 damages, plus costs.
(All names changed.)
Read more here: Will the Police learn their lesson? The illegal strip-search of a minor.
You must be logged in to post a comment.