Officer involved in ‘degrading’ strip search of woman given final written warning

A misconduct panel heard that the woman was strip searched and her clothes removed, partially in front of male officers.

Two Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers faced allegations their conduct breached standards of professional behaviour.

A seven-day misconduct hearing, presented by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) that ended on Tuesday (December 20), found gross misconduct proven for custody sergeant Dru Hussey as the strip search, which he authorised in May 2020, did not comply with legal requirements and force policy and “could be perceived as degrading”.

He received a final written warning that will remain valid for four years.

Allegations against the second officer, Police Constable Samantha Ryan, one of the arresting officers who also participated in the strip search, were not proven.

The MPS said while the panel found Sgt Hussey correctly authorised the strip search, he did not follow procedure in terms of his participation and oversight.

He was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to orders and instructions and duties and responsibilities and authority, respect and courtesy.

PC Ryan was alleged to have breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to use of force, orders and instructions and authority, respect and courtesy. None of these matters were proven.

Superintendent Wayne Matthews, MPS Detention, said: “These allegations arose from a difficult situation with the woman involved resisting and restrained by officers.

“Regardless, strip search is an intrusive power we must use responsibly given the impact it can have, and we must follow procedure. The panel has found Sgt Hussey did not do so in this case.”

The IOPC investigation began in May 2020 after video footage of the woman’s arrest was widely shared on social media, and the woman lodged a formal complaint.

The MPS said Taskforce officers had stopped a vehicle driving erratically on Lewisham High Street on May 9, 2020, and reported a smell of cannabis coming from inside the vehicle.

The driver was arrested, and later convicted, for failing to provide a specimen of breath.

PC Ryan attempted to search the female passenger for drugs. She resisted and was restrained by a number of officers with PC Ryan striking her.

The woman was taken to the ground and then arrested for obstructing the drugs search and assaulting police and taken to Lewisham police station, where she was strip searched. Nothing was found during the search.

A charge of obstructing a drug search was later discontinued.

The IOPC said: “At the end of our investigation, in March 2021, we directed the force to hold a misconduct hearing for Sgt Hussey and PC Ryan.

“We decided we would present the evidence after the force disagreed with our findings that the officers had cases to answer for gross misconduct.

“The panel found Sgt Hussey failed to inform the woman she was to be strip searched, why or how it would be conducted.

“Male officers, including Sgt Hussey, were present during the initial part of the strip search and intermittently throughout.

“The search was conducted in a cell equipped with CCTV and no effort was made by Sgt Hussey to inform the woman of this or seek her cooperation with the search.

“In doing so, the panel found Sg Hussey failed to respect the woman’s dignity as an individual or human being. It was noted the woman was in a lonely and vulnerable place and Sg Hussey failed to protect and safeguard her rights.”

The panel also concluded that PS Hussey did not make an adequate entry on the custody record setting out his rationale for the strip search.

It was determined Sgt Hussey breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to authority, respect and courtesy, orders and instructions, and duties and responsibilities.

During the hearing, it was alleged that PC Ryan used excessive force during the arrest of the woman, that she was disrespectful towards her and that she participated in a strip search which did not comply with the law.

The panel found the case against PC Ryan was not proven, noting the force used during the arrest was reasonable in the circumstances.

IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: “Anyone who is in police custody is entitled to be treated with respect and courtesy.

“Our investigation found the way the strip search was conducted appeared to have failed to comply with the law, police policy and could be perceived as degrading.

“Officers never explained to the woman what was happening and her questions were ignored. This incident was highly distressing for her and undermines wider public confidence in the MPS.

“As the officer in charge of the strip search, the independent panel has rightly found that Sgt Hussey failed in his responsibilities to safeguard her welfare, protect her legal rights and ensure she was treated with dignity and respect.”

The IOPC said during its investigation it obtained and reviewed body-worn video, CCTV and mobile phone footage, custody records, incident logs, and radio transmissions.

“We took accounts from other the officers present and a statement from the complainant and obtained independent expert evidence on the use of force by the officers,” it added.