Written Question·Home Office·UIN 108659

Body Searches: Children

Tabled: 27 January 2026
Answered: 4 February 2026

Question

Neil Coyle

LabourBermondsey and Old Southwark

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to help ensure that all strip searches of children have an appropriate adult present.

Answer

Sarah Jones
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 requires that when a child is strip searched an appropriate adult must be present except in cases where delay would pose a risk of serious harm, or where the child specifically requests otherwise and the appropria...

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