Weyman Bennett and Sabby Dhalu Stand up to Racism Co-Convenors said:
“We send our solidarity to Child Q and her family at this difficult time. To be taken out of an exam is humiliating enough, then to be subjected to the awful dehumanising and degrading ordeal of being strip-searched by police officers with no safeguarding measures is utterly disgraceful. For the Metropolitan Police to simply issue an apology is a travesty of justice.
“This incident took place in 2020 when the whole world said Black Lives Matter and a spotlight was shone on police racism. In Bristol protesters removed the statue of slaver Edward Colston. The behaviour of the police officers involved is a legacy of the sexual exploitation and humiliation black people were subjected to during slavery.
“We call on the Metropolitan Police to expel the police officers involved. There must be an independent investigation into all authorities concerned to ensure proper safeguarding of children and to take action on eradicating institutional racism.
“There have been historic problems with racism in policing in Stoke Newington, including the 2017 Rashan Charles and Edson Da Costa deaths in police custody. Racism in policing in Stoke Newington.
“We support the demonstrations in Hackney in response to this. We will also ensure the Child Q and her family get solidarity and support at the March Against Racism this Saturday.”
