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London police officers face action over woman's strip-search | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Eight police officers are to face disciplinary action after policemen strip-searched a woman who had been arrested outside a London nightclub. | Eight police officers are to face disciplinary action after policemen strip-searched a woman who had been arrested outside a London nightclub. |
The Independent Police Complaints Commission said officers had breached standards of professional behaviour. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission said officers had breached standards of professional behaviour. |
The 22-year-old was searched by one female and four males "without adequate justification", the IPCC said. | The 22-year-old was searched by one female and four males "without adequate justification", the IPCC said. |
The search was also in breach of rules which say such searches must be carried out by an officer of the same sex. | The search was also in breach of rules which say such searches must be carried out by an officer of the same sex. |
According to an IPCC inquiry, the woman's clothes were removed by force and she was left naked in a cell for half an hour. CCTV images of the search were broadcast to the police station's custody desk. | According to an IPCC inquiry, the woman's clothes were removed by force and she was left naked in a cell for half an hour. CCTV images of the search were broadcast to the police station's custody desk. |
The incident took place at Chelsea police station in March 2011 and IPCC commissioner Derrick Campbell said the incident caused "a great deal of distress to the victim". | The incident took place at Chelsea police station in March 2011 and IPCC commissioner Derrick Campbell said the incident caused "a great deal of distress to the victim". |
He said: "I find it difficult to understand why police officers think they have the right to strip a young woman of all her clothes, leaving her naked for half an hour and then expose her to being filmed. | He said: "I find it difficult to understand why police officers think they have the right to strip a young woman of all her clothes, leaving her naked for half an hour and then expose her to being filmed. |
"I am sure, like the complainant, the public will want to understand how this was allowed to happen. I look forward to the misconduct process getting the answers that are needed." | "I am sure, like the complainant, the public will want to understand how this was allowed to happen. I look forward to the misconduct process getting the answers that are needed." |
Gross misconduct | |
The woman complained about her treatment to the Metropolitan Police, which carried out its own investigation, but she was unhappy with the findings and took the matter to the IPCC. | |
The watchdog said that the woman was "intoxicated, distressed and running in and out of a road" when she was arrested outside the Supper Club nightclub. | |
Officers believed she was on drugs and might have illegal substances hidden in her clothing, the IPCC said. | |
The watchdog found that the police sergeant on duty should face a charge of gross misconduct for failing to make a written record of the strip-search or make sure that it was carried out in line with the rules. | |
It said five constables should face misconduct proceedings for breaching the guidelines for searches, while another two should face "management action", an internal measure. | |
One is accused of potentially discouraging the woman from getting legal advice by implying that she would have to stay at the police station for longer if she did so. | |
It is claimed that the other officer failed to investigate her claim that her drink was spiked at the club. |
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