The Children’s Commissioner for England released the results of an investigation Monday revealing that hundreds of children were strip-searched by London’s Metropolitan Police Service between 2018 and 2020.

The investigation, led by Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza, uncovered that 650 children were searched, 25% of whom were between the ages of 10 and 15 years old. On 23% of all occasions, an “appropriate adult” was not present, despite the requirement under statutory guidance for the presence of an “appropriate adult,” usually a parent, guardian or social worker).

The report also notes that over half of all strip-searches of children resulted in no further action taken by the police, something the Commissioner says “arguably indicates that this intrusive practice may well not be justified or necessary in all cases.”

Moreover, the report said 58% of all boys strip-searched were black, indicating a racial bias and “extremely worrying ethnic disproportionality” against those from the black community.

The probe was launched after widespread outrage following a 2020 incident where female officers strip-searched a 15-year-old schoolgirl, named Child Q in the media and in the report, on suspicion of carrying cannabis. Child Q was searched without the presence of an “appropriate adult” and was not carrying cannabis.

In a statement, Rachel de Souza said:

A police power that is as intrusive and traumatic for children as a strip search must be treated with the utmost care and responsibility. It must also be accompanied by a robust and transparent system of scrutiny to protect and safeguard vulnerable children.

De Souza further observed that she was not reassured that what happened to Child Q was an isolated incident and the findings of the report point to deeper, systemic problems with child protection that exist within the Metropolitan Police. She now plans to undertake a similar review of the practices of police forces across England.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, called the findings of the probe “gravely concerning” and indicative of a “serious wider issue with regards to disproportionality and the use of stop and search on young black boys.” Mayor Khan tweeted that:

It is clear there is also a serious wider issue with regards to disproportionality and the use of stop and search on young black boys.

I am committed to holding the Met to account on the improvements needed.

Londoners deserve nothing less.

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) August 8, 2022