Report Summary
Issued 4 September 2023, this FOI response confirms that information on searching policy for transgender officers and staff is not held by the Scottish Police Authority. Advice is provided that Police Scotland may hold information and links provided to Police Scotland procedures which may be of interest and are publicly available.
Request
I write in relation to the guidance discussed and agreed by Chief Officers at the NPCC meeting of 9th December 2021, which “introduced a consistent searching policy for transgender officers and staff across all forces”. This recommendation was accepted at that meeting by all police chiefs present.
This has been widely reported in the press. As a woman and a member of the public in your area, it causes me real alarm and concern and makes me conclude that the Police have learnt nothing from the lack of trust and confidence that women now have since the terrible murder of Sarah Everard. I have sent this letter to you both as, while this may be an operational issue, it also cuts right across the priorities within the local Police & Crime Plan and the policing objectives for the area.
So that I fully understand what your position will be in practice, I would like to have the following questions addressed and answered by yourself as a matter of priority. I do intend to share your reply with other women’s groups.
- Does this force intend to fully implement the searching policy as agreed by the NPCC on 9th December 2021 and if so, please identify the implementation date.
- What equality impact assessments have been carried out in advance of implementation with regard to other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, in particular, race, religion or belief, sex, and disability? If not implemented yet, please advise what your intentions are regarding a full equality impact assessment.
- Advise in detail what impact you envisage this will have on women’s trust and confidence in the Police and what mitigation you intend to put in place.
- Advise in detail whether a hate crime or a non-crime hate incident would be created under any circumstances if a woman objects to a male officer searching her and what these circumstances may be.
- Advise in detail what your position will be with regard to female police officers being required to strip search males self-identifying as women and in particular, if you would support those officers having a right to refuse to carry out such searches.
- If you do not intend to fully implement the searching policy, please advise in detail what the position of this force will be.
