Autistic girl, 14, ‘attempted suicide after Met Police patrol’

A mother said her teenage daughter tried to kill herself after being searched by Metropolitan Police officers.

The 14-year-old mixed-race girl was held in custody for more than 20 hours after two boys called the police claiming their group of friends had tried to rob her with a knife.

Police found her in possession of a sharpened cane and a small blade, which her mother said was because she had injured herself.

After finding them, her mother said six officers handcuffed and forcibly undressed the girl, who was given the alias Olivia to protect her identity.

Her mother, called Lisa: “Olivia was actually on her period at the time too. And they cut off her underwear in front of these adult male officers.

“She was absolutely desperate.”

Lisa told the BBC the experience had a devastating impact on her daughter’s mental health.

“She spent a lot of time in her room and continued to secretly self-harm. And then a few weeks later, she attempted suicide,” she added.

Lisa said she told officers over the phone that her daughter had autism, had learning disabilities, and had self-injured.

Police confirmed that the mother had lodged a complaint and was investigating.

The report comes after backlash over revelations that a 15-year-old girl known as Child Q was strip-searched by female Metropolitan Police officers in 2020, knowing she was menstruating after being falsely suspected of using cannabis to have carried himself East London school.

Lisa told BBC Radio 4’s File On 4 program that officers searched her daughter and her friends at the scene and the group were arrested in December 2020.

Olivia later appeared in court and was charged with possession of a bladed weapon and found not guilty after the judges accepted the items were used to harm himself, the BBC reported.

Her family is filing a civil suit against the Met and is being represented by attorney Gail Hadfield Granger, who has been contacted for comment.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We have received a complaint from the girl’s mother which is currently being investigated.

“We have also received notification of a possible civil lawsuit and as such cannot comment further at this time.”

Assistant Deputy Commissioner Laurence Taylor told File On 4 that strip searches help protect children during detention.

“(The) worst case scenario would be that we stop strip search completely and a young child dies in custody because of possession of a knife or drugs used to harm themselves,” he said.

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