The National Police Chiefs Council is facing backlash over its policy allowing transgender officers to conduct searches on women, with concerns raised about legal breaches and safety risks. Campaigners are urging a revision of the rules to ensure the protection of female detainees.
National Police Chiefs Criticized Over Policy on Transgender Officers Conducting Searches
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) is facing criticism for its policies allowing transgender officers to perform strip searches on women. Earlier this year, the NPCC withdrew guidelines that permitted biological males identifying as female to intimately search women, following public outcry.
The NPCC announced a comprehensive review of the rules, and Home Office ministers echoed campaigners’ concerns about potential legal breaches and safety risks. However, activists fear the revised guidelines will still permit transgender officers to carry out these searches.
During a recent consultation, police allegedly mentioned the existence of “72 recognized genders” and named a trans activist lawyer involved in the review. Campaigners, including Maya Forstater of Sex Matters, Heather Binning of the Women’s Rights Network, Kate Barker of the LGB Alliance, and retired police officer Cathy Larkman, criticized the NPCC for taking a “neutral stance” on whether trans women should be allowed to search female detainees. They contend the process should be halted and restarted with new advisers who would ensure no male officer, regardless of gender identity, conducts intimate searches on female detainees.
An NPCC spokesperson confirmed that the review involves input from various stakeholders and emphasized that no final decisions have been made yet.
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