GMP ends strip searches for female inmates

GREATER Manchester Police (GMP) has announced major changes following a harrowing report on the treatment of women and girls in custody.

- DECLAN CAREY

Strip searches for welfare purposes have ended, with steps taken to make the practice a 'last resort' for concealment, and female welfare officer roles have been created to 'better respond to the needs of female detainees' in custody.

GMP is also now providing all female suspects in custody with dignity packs including sanitary products, has ensured female welfare officers are allocated to female suspects in custody, and refreshed officer training on the use of voluntary attendance interviews.

A report on the changes made since the inquiry found that GMP has 'improved people's dignity and support in custody' through the progress it has made, with better record keeping of when strip searches take place, as well as making improvements to requests for personal information being held on file.

The changes are part of the independent Baird Inquiry which was launched to investigate the experiences of people taken into custody by GMP The review, led by Dame Vera Baird KC, was commissioned by mayor Andy Burnham last summer after a series of allegations were made against GMP from multiple women who came forward to the media.