Police Powers - PC's Smith & Jones

PC Smith and PC Jones stop and search Gazel  (15) because she is wearing a baseball cap and therefore looks suspicious. The PC's briefly discuss the issues together and decide that she must have been shoplifting because she is dressed so 'cool'.

After her arrest, they do not get Gazel to the police station for over half an hour because they stop off at a cashpoint in order for PC Smith to take out some money and then they stop off at a burger bar for the two police officers to buy some lunch.

Upon arriving at the station, PC Smith and PC Jones attempt to body search Gazel. She accuses them of 'touching her up' and tries to resist and during the ensuing struggle Gazel hits PC Jones in the stomach. PC Smith says, ìSo weíve got an awkward customer here, have we? Perhaps we should get the rubber gloves out and give her a proper search.î They then get a female officer to conduct an intimate body search on Gazel.

After the search, PC Smith and PC Jones decide to interrogate Gazel. They hand her a leaflet telling her she has a right to free legal advice but Gazel (who is dyslexic) does not ask to see a solicitor and they conduct the interview with no solicitor being present. She becomes upset and starts crying for her mother and confesses to stealing a mobile telephone 2 years previous. The Police Officers then charge her with theft of a telephone and assaulting a PC and send her home.

What should Gazel do now?