TWO Southend police officers are facing a gross misconduct charge after a 16-year-old boy was strip searched in the back of a police van.

Det Con Ian Patterson and PC Michael Brimfield admit breaching their duties and responsibilities.

A four-day misconduct panel hearing is taking place at the Family Court in Harlow into whether or not their actions amount to gross misconduct.

The panel heard the search should have taken place at a police station and there should have been a responsible adult present.

The BBC reported how the panel heard the 16-year-old, dubbed “Boy R” was strip searched three times in August, 2014.

He was initially arrested by PC Brimfield after being found in the passenger seat of a car being drive by a suspected drug dealer. The suspected dealer was referred to as “Mr K” during the hearing.

Both the boy and the man were taken to Southend police station, in Victoria Avenue, where a strip search was carried out.

Stephen Morley, representing Essex Police, said Boy R was told to squat during the search, which is against police guidelines.

PC Brimfield admits asking him to do so, the BBC reported.

The youth was stopped again two days later while in another car linked to Mr K.

On that occasion, he was strip searched by Det Con Patterson.

The boy was stopped again in Beach Road, Southend, on August 17.

Mr Morley said this time Det Con Patterson and PC Brimfield decided to search the 16-year-old in the back of a police van, against police guidelines.

During that occasion, he was found to have cannabis but he swallowed the class B drug. As a result, he was taken to Southend Hospital.

Mr Morley said a complaint was raised by Boy R’s mother.

The panel heard the search was not in itself inappropriate but it should have taken place at a police station and in the presence of an appropriate adult.

The hearing continues.