The Met has finally apologised to a university lecturer after officers used ‘sexist, derogatory and unacceptable language’ when they strip searched her.
The force will also pay Dr Konstancja Duff compensation for the horrific way she was treated at Stoke Newington police station in north-east London.
It comes as shocking footage was released showing staff calling her ‘rank’, discussing her ‘smelly knickers’ and the amount of hair on her body.
The custody sergeant said ‘treat her like a terrorist’ and search her ‘by any means necessary’ during the incident in May 2013.
Dr Duff, an assistant professor of philosophy at Nottingham University, had been arrested after she intervened in the arrest of a 15-year-old boy.
She tried to hand him a card listing his legal rights and told him to give a ‘no comment’ interview.
Later, the teenager was found with a 6-inch knife in his socks in May 2013.
The arrest of Dr Duff who at the time was enrolled for a Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music was based on the suspicion of obstruction of police.
The force will also compensate Dr Konstancja Duf (pictured) for the horrible treatment she received at Stoke Newington police station, north-east London.
Unfortunate footage of Dr Duff’s staff discussing her “smelly knickers” and how much hair was on her body has been released.
Footage, obtained by the lecturer and released to the Guardian today, shows Sgt Kurtis Howard – who was in charge of the custody area – ordering her search.
He instructed officers to demonstrate to her her resistance was futile, and search her with ‘any necessary means’. He added: ‘Treat her like a terrorist. I don’t care.’
Dr Duff was then tied by three female officers inside a cell. She was later pinned down, and her clothes were ripped with scissors.
They walked in the reception area after the search was over. A policeman stated: “Didn’t find anything unusual on her ladies?”
One woman replied, “Quite a lot of hair.” One of the other officers giggled. Two policemen went through her stuff, with one saying: ‘Sorry, sorry, what’s that smell?’
His co-worker said: ‘Oh, it’s her knickers, yeah?’ A female officer entered the room and said: ‘Ugh, I feel disgusting; I’m going to need a shower.’
A man from the force hit back: ‘You need defumigating.’ One of the women said: ‘Is she rank?’
Insp Andy O’Donnell from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards told Dr Duff that he would like to use this occasion to apologize for any sexist or demeaning language used towards you.
Dr Duff will be compensated by the Met for her horrific treatment at Stoke Newington Police Station (pictured in northeast London).
The female officer said: ‘No, she’s not actually.’ Another policeman replied: ‘She is, her clothes stink.’ Another policeman replied, ‘She is, her clothes stink.’ The woman said: It isn’t.
Dr Duff said today: ‘There was such a barrage of misinformation that they put out that I actually, even though I was there and I knew that it was false, had almost started to doubt myself.
‘It was such an effective gaslighting: ”We were just concerned for your mental health, that was why we had to – for your own good – forcibly strip you naked and mash you up”.
“It was clearly not what they were doing at that time. It was punishment. They used intimidation to get my information.
Police initially stated that they were professional after the philosophy professor declined to reveal her identity.
In 2018, Howard was found not guilty of gross misconduct after the disciplinary committee found that her actions had been necessary in order to evaluate any danger she might be putting herself at risk.
The Met has not said where any other officers have been probed but said claims against individual officers have been put to the professional standards directorate.
The force has issued an apology and will compensate her following her civil case against them.
Met’s directorate for professional standards Andy O’Donnell informed her, “I would like this to take this chance to apologize for the sexist derogatory, unacceptable language you used and for any discomfort and upset this might have caused.”
“I hope settlement of this claim will be reached and that you recognize the effects of those events, so that you can move on from this horrible incident.”
MailOnline received this statement from a Met spokesperson: “In November 2021 the Met settled a Claim Following the Arrest of a Hackney Woman in May 2013.
“We have sincere apologies to the complainant regarding the language she used during her custody, and for any distress that it caused.
“Following conclusion of civil claim, allegations of misconduct related to these comments were referred by our Directorate of Professional Standards to be investigated. The investigation is ongoing.