What discussions has the Welsh Government had with South Wales Police regarding the strip search of children aged 10 to 17 following the analysis by the Children’s Commissioner for England of strip search of children in England and Wales?
I was extremely concerned read the report into strip searches of children published by the Children’s Commissioner for England on 27 March.
The use of stop and search and other police powers and procedures is an operational decision for the police. Policing is a reserved matter, so the Welsh Government does not have competence in this area, however, we work closely with Policing in Wales and the Home Office, taking a partnership approach to community safety in Wales.
This is an issue we take very seriously. I believe strip searches should only be used when there is a clear rationale for why they are necessary. I have discussed this issue with Policing in Wales leads, including the lead Police and Crime Commissioner for Wales at one of our regular meetings. They informed me that sometimes strip searches of children are required for their own safety, but they are committed to ensuring that this only happens when essential.
Clearly if this intrusive and potentially traumatic power is necessary, there must be robust safeguards in place. Every case should be fully justified, appropriately conducted and used as a last resort. This includes the presence of an appropriate adult.
I have also been informed that Policing in Wales leads are bringing together data from each force in Wales to ensure there is a full picture of how intimate searches are being used, to highlight any issues and what, if any, action is needed. That aggregated data will provide a more comprehensive assessment of the situation in Wales, including the level of intimacy of the searches. I have been promised an update once that piece of work concludes, and my officials have asked Policing in Wales for a timescale setting out when the work should be completed.
A key goal within our Anti-racist Wales Action Plan, published June 2022, is to work with Criminal Justice Board for Wales partners to better understand and address race disproportionality and its causes across the criminal justice system. There is a commitment in the Plan to work with the police and other criminal justice partners to publish a Criminal Justice Anti-Racism Action Plan for Wales. This was published in September 2022, and it is jointly led and owned by Criminal Justice in Wales partners and complements Welsh Government’s Action Plan.
The Criminal Justice Anti-Racism Action Plan for Wales includes a commitment to “continually review racial disproportionality data, ensuring that measures are put in place to reduce it”. Welsh Government, together with our partners, will monitor implementation of this approach closely. An Independent Oversight and Advisory Panel also provides further challenge, advice, and independent oversight against the Plan. We have highlighted the issue of strip searches to the Criminal Justice Board for Wales coordinator to ensure this is picked up through the delivery of their work on anti-racism.