- Black children face significantly higher rates of police strip-searches compared to white children.
- New data shows racial disparities are worsening despite a general decline in overall searches.
- Law enforcement continues to use force disproportionately against Black youth during police searches.
Police in England and Wales target Black children for strip-searches at a rate nearly eight times higher than white children. Data from 44 forces between July 2023 and June 2024 reveals this trend. Black youth are also over five times more likely to undergo these searches than Asian youth.
Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner, notes that racial bias continues to influence police practices. Although total searches of children have dropped since 2020, the racial gap is widening again. This trend suggests a reversal of previous progress toward narrowing these disparities in policing.
The report analyzed 362 strip-searches of minors. White children made up 50 percent, while Black children accounted for 31 percent. Other groups included Asian children at 11 percent, those of mixed ethnicity at 1.7 percent, and others at 12 percent. Small percentages remained unrecorded.
Police often justify using force against Black children by citing their size, gender or build. This contrasts with white children, where mental health needs are more frequently cited. Black children are nearly five times more likely to experience force during a search.
Many strip-searches are conducted for suspected drug possession, yet nearly half result in no action. Some occurred in public without an appropriate adult present. Additionally, 30 percent of the children subjected to these intrusive searches had been searched at least once before.
Force, including Tasers or handcuffs, was used in 17 percent of stop and searches between April 2024 and March 2025. In 43 percent of these cases, no further action was taken, raising questions about whether the force used was necessary or proportionate.
The Home Office is introducing extensive safeguards and policing reforms to address misconduct. Meanwhile, the National Police Chiefs’ Council is updating policies to reduce disproportionate searches. They acknowledge that inappropriate searches can damage trust between the police and local communities.
These findings follow the Child Q case, where a 15-year-old was searched while menstruating. Two officers were dismissed for gross misconduct. De Souza warns against the adultification of Black children, who are often viewed as older and less deserving of protection.
