WIREDGOV

Two North Wales Police officers have been disciplined over complaints about the strip search of a 15 year-old boy without an appropriate adult present. 

The boy, along with four other youths, was detained and searched by police in Llandudno on 29 May 2012, under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Four of the youths, including the boy, were taken to Llandudno police station where a strip search took place. All four were eventually released without any further action.

North Wales Police has advised the IPCC that, prior to any misconduct meeting taking place, it had put in place a number of measures around ‘stop and search’, including intimate searches in custody, to ensure that such searches are carried out in a lawful and proportionate manner. Action taken includes further training for officers and setting up a scrutiny board.

The IPCC began an independent investigation last year, after it had earlier upheld two appeals from the boy's father, who had complained to North Wales Police about his son's treatment.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the IPCC investigator found that two police constables had a case to answer for misconduct. Evidence gathered found that, contrary to official practice, no appropriate adult was notified or present when the strip search took place. The strip search did take place in a private area of the station and was conducted quickly by officers.

A meeting held by North Wales Police towards the end of July found misconduct against the two officers, for failing to ensure that an appropriate adult was present. As they had already received management action from the force, the officers did not face any further action.

IPCC Commissioner for Wales, Jan Williams, said: “Our independent investigators obtained statements from witnesses, analysed CCTV and radio transmissions, served notices and interviewed the officers under misconduct caution. North Wales Police has advised the IPCC that, since the time of the incident, the force has heightened its focus around stop and search and has appointed a senior officer, at superintendent level, to oversee this area.”