It’s been revealed London’s Police Force strip-searched more than 600 children over a two-year period
England’s Commissioner for Children is “deeply shocked” at revelations about London’s Metropolitan Police reportedly strip-searching innocent children.
Dame Rachel de Souza says nearly one-in-four cases took place without a supervising adult in the room.
It’s understood most of the children were black boys and comes amid growing concerns over the force itself.
The data was released after a probe into alleged misconduct by four officers in the case of ‘Child Q’ .
The case involved a 15-year-old black girl who was strip-searched by female officers in 2020.
The girl was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis at her school, and was menstruating at the time.
“I am not reassured that what happened to Child Q was an isolated issue, but instead believe it may be a particularly concerning example of a more systemic problem around child protection within the Metropolitan police.”
RACHEL DE SOUZA, ENGLAND’S COMMISSIONER FOR CHILDREN
Sadiq Khan is the Mayor of London, who says there are “many cases” of these instances.
“There remain serious wider issues with regard to disproportionality and the use of stop and search on young black boys,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police says the force is working to ensure these cases are dealt with “appropriately and respectfully”.
“We have already made changes and continue to work hard to balance the policing needed for this type of search with the considerable impact it can have on young people.”
METROPOLITAN POLICE
The force said officers and staff have undertaken a refreshed course on the policies relating to a ‘further search’.
There has also been renewed advice around dealing with schools, ensuring that children are treated as children and safeguards for those under 18.
Costa is a news producer at ticker NEWS. He has previously worked as a regional journalist at the Southern Highlands Express newspaper. He also has several years' experience in the fire and emergency services sector, where he has worked with researchers, policymakers and local communities. He has also worked at the Seven Network during their Olympic Games coverage and in the ABC Melbourne newsroom.
He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Professional), with expertise in journalism, politics and international relations. His other interests include colonial legacies in the Pacific, counter-terrorism, aviation and travel.
Spotify’s 2023 Wrapped has dropped prompting listeners to review their top artists, genres, and songs of the year.
Many are taking to social media platforms to share their listening trends with family, friends, coworkers, and even other fans on the internet.
While Apple Music, a rival platform, has its own year-end campaign—it hasn’t quite ignited the same online response.
Seth Schachner, the Managing Director at StratAmericas and a former Sony Music Executive joins Veronica Dudo to discuss. #Spotify #music #Apple #AppleMusic #SpotifyWrapped #streaming #featured #IN AMERICA TODAY
Coles and Woolworths, two of Australia’s largest supermarket chains, are about to face a Senate inquiry that aims to scrutinise their market dominance and business practices.
The inquiry’s parallels with a past New Zealand investigation highlight the growing concern over the duopoly’s impact on consumers and smaller businesses.
The Senate inquiry, set to begin next month, comes as a response to mounting public pressure and allegations of anti-competitive behavior in the grocery sector.
New Zealand example
Similar concerns led New Zealand to conduct its own inquiry into the supermarket industry back in 2019, resulting in recommendations for increased regulation and transparency.
The central question here is whether Coles and Woolworths wield too much power in the Australian market, potentially stifling competition and limiting choices for consumers.
With the New Zealand example as a cautionary tale, many are wondering if this inquiry will result in meaningful changes to the Australian grocery landscape.
Elon Musk has thrown a verbal jab at former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, declaring her political campaign as “dead” on X.
The unexpected comment from the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has ignited a new wave of discussion within the political sphere, leaving many wondering about the implications for Haley’s political future.
In a tweet that garnered significant attention, Musk criticized Haley’s recent policy stance, writing, “Nikki Haley’s campaign is dead on arrival if she continues to ignore the urgency of climate change.
We need leaders who prioritize the planet’s future.” The tech mogul’s remarks come as Haley, a prominent Republican figure, has been exploring the possibility of running for president in the upcoming election cycle.
Musk’s statement has reignited the debate over climate change within the Republican Party, with many conservatives emphasizing economic interests over environmental concerns.
This raises questions about whether Musk’s endorsement or critique could influence the GOP’s stance on climate issues and potentially impact the 2024 presidential race.