Statement by SEC President on Hackney schoolgirl, Child Q

24 Mar 2022, 08:55Dr Emmanuel Osei, SEC PresidentSouth England Conference Headquarters

Statement by SEC President on Hackney schoolgirl, Child Q

As President of the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with congregations in and around Hackney, I would like to express our deep commiseration and support with the young schoolgirl who was inappropriately strip searched in the Hackney area recently. It was disturbing to learn of the perplexing and traumatic incident that the 15- year-old schoolgirl would have experienced on her school premises.

The incident has sent a wrong message about Police fairness and their discretion regarding the treatment of minority groups and minors of black origin.

To this end, we are joining others to express our disgust at the unfortunate incident and would ask for immediate redress to this morally inappropriate behaviour of the Police. We believe this would contribute to reassuring minorities of their trust in the Police, as they carry out their work sensitively and protect all communities regardless of their racial background.

We are holding the family of this young schoolgirl in our prayers and pledge our support for them as they come to terms with the unfortunate situation.

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