Minister: I assume police have very good reasons to conduct child strip-searches

Groans were heard from peers as Lord Sharpe of Epsom made the comment while discussing concerns over Children’s Commissioner’s office research.

Of the almost 3,000 strip-searches of children by police in recent years, more than half have taken place without an appropriate adult present, research found (Alamy/PA)

A Home Office minister said he would “assume” police have “very good reasons” to conduct child strip-searches after a report warned of safeguarding failures.

Conservative frontbencher Lord Sharpe of Epsom faced groans from peers for his comments made in the House of Lords as he responded to concerns about the use of such powers.

Of the almost 3,000 strip-searches of children by police in recent years, more than half have taken place without an appropriate adult present, research by the Children’s Commissioner’s office showed.