Written questions

Body Searches: Children and Young People

Commons · Question 14879 · Tabled 1 Jul 2026 · Home Office · Official record

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question

Asked by Cat Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider the potential merits of requiring police forces to 1) inform the child’s legal parent or guardian prior to the strip search taking place, and 2) ensure that the parent or guardian

Answer

Answered by Sarah Jones, 9 Jul 2026

The Government welcomes the Children’s Commissioner’s report, Police powers and children - strip searching and use of force, and takes its recommendations seriously.Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use must ...