Police searches of transgender and non-binary people procedure (FOI)

Request

A

How have the Police been told to handle trans and non-binary people during a strip search?

B

Do male Officers search the woman who identify as men?

C

Do female Officers search men who identify as woman?

D

Are gender neutrals overseen by either or sex or by an officer of each sex together?

Response

A

Officers receive training in how to carry out a search as part of their initial training when joining the Police or specialising in Custody and have annual refresher training as part of their Continued Professional Development (CPD). Staff are required to follow the guidelines as outlined by the College of Policing. If dealing with a transgender or non-binary individual, the Police will always confirm which gender they identify as and try to ensure that they are dealt with by Officers of the same gender to which they identify for the strip search. If dealing with a non-binary individual who does not associate to one particular gender, the Police would encourage discussion as to which gender of Officer they would feel most comfortable dealing with.

Should the individual not wish to disclose this personal information, the decision about which Officer used will be based on an assessment of information available from their predominant lifestyle. 

B

Should an individual who was born a woman but now identifies as a man require a search, their identified gender will be taken into consideration, and they will be offered the option of being searched by male officers. The decision will be made in conjunction with the individual concerned. 

C

Should an individual who was born a man but now identifies as a woman require a search, their identified gender will be taken into consideration, and they will be offered the option of being searched by female Officers. The decision will be made in conjunction with the individual concerned. 

D

As above, if dealing with a non-binary or gender-neutral individual who does not associate to one particular gender, the Police would encourage discussion as to which gender of Officer they would feel most comfortable dealing with. Should the individual not wish to disclose this personal information, the decision on Officer used will be based on an assessment of information available from their predominant lifestyle. The individual would normally be dealt with by Officers of the same sex as each other, rather than Officers of mixed sexes. However, the matter would be taken on a case-by-case basis, in discussion with the individual involved and in consideration of their particular needs.