End of ‘welfare’ strip-searches at GMP following major inquiry into police custody

This includes ending the use of strip searches for welfare purposes, with steps taken to ensure it is “a last resort for concealment”, and the allocation of dedicated female welfare officers to “better respond to the needs of women detainees”.

The force said: “Following the publication of the Baird review in July 2024, we have comprehensively addressed 24 of the 26 recommendations specific to GMP, with scrutiny from the Greater Manchester mayor and deputy mayor.

“These relate to our use of arrest, care for domestic and sexual abuse survivors, treatment of women and men in custody, use of strip-search, and the handling of complaints.”

GMP is now providing all female suspects in custody with dignity packs, including sanitary products, refreshed officer training on the use of voluntary attendance interviews, and begun implementing trauma-informed training to all frontline officers.

“Our improvements are in addition to the substantial progress made following His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in February 2023,” said GMP.

“All of our developments are openly scrutinised by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the inspectorate, and further independent accountability initiatives such as the use of independent custody visitors.

“This work is alongside our support of national partners in policing, and beyond to improve custody provision, as we aim to be an exemplar in this space in UK policing.”

The Baird inquiry investigated the experience of people arrested and taken into police custody in Greater Manchester with a focus on women and girls.

The mayor commissioned Dame Vera  to undertake the inquiry following a Sky News report on July 26, 2023, that reported concerning incidents with regards to three women who were arrested and detained by GMP.

Since the Sky News report, the inquiry expanded to include 14 complainants in total, including three males, as well as anonymised contributions from “trusted support organisations”, and insights from focus groups, independent custody visitors and police officers/staff.

The inquiry largely examined cases between 2021 and 2023, although in a few of the cases, more historical incidents going back to 2019 were also referred to.

The “distressing findings” of the report uncovered evidence of “poor practice” in the areas of arrest, custody, strip-search, domestic abuse handling, and complaints.

GMP Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said: “Our significant progress with the Baird review recommendations demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the people of Greater Manchester – particularly women and girls – can have confidence in their police force.

“Dame Vera’s report was a disturbing read which highlighted some troubling truths. The chief constable apologised to those in the report, and we take full responsibility for implementing the recommendations with a view to making lasting improvements.

“It is clear we are well on the way to doing this. We are working closely with local and national partners in policing and beyond to ensure we are being held fully accountable for our improvements, while also influencing national change in this space.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “This is a landmark moment in our quest to improve the safety and treatment of women across Greater Manchester.

“Last year we commissioned Dame Vera Baird to carry out a full and independent review that would shine a spotlight on experiences in police custody, and give a voice to those who were failed by problematic cultures and practices.

“The distressing findings of that report were a clarion call for urgent action. Today we can confirm that Greater Manchester is answering that call.

“In July, both the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and GMP committed to implement fully and faithfully the recommendations set out in Dame Vera’s inquiry.

“Back then I called on GMP to bring an end to strip-searching for so-called welfare purposes within six months. Four months on, this practice has ended, and there is now a presumption against strip searches for concealment.

“Dame Vera’s report recommended that we create a new independent custody visitor role with responsibility for unannounced visits to custody suites. We have now recruited to a role that will give us the capacity to carry out comprehensive checks in all custody suites to ensure GMP are meeting the standards expected of them.

“We pay tribute again to Dame Vera for the comprehensive and unflinching work that she carried out, and we thank all of those who came forward and gave evidence to her Inquiry.

“It is clear that there is still progress to be made. The Deputy Mayor and I will continue to hold up a mirror to unacceptable practices wherever we find them, and work with the Chief Constable and his team to ensure that improvements are delivered and sustained.”

Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green, added: “I have carefully and thoroughly considered the progress made since Dame Vera’s report was published earlier this year, and I am pleased to say that both GMP and the GMCA are delivering on her recommendations.

“This includes the crucially important end to the authorisation of strip searches for welfare purposes, and where strip search is needed for concealment, it will be a last resort.

“GMP now have more dedicated provision to meet the needs of people taken into custody, including significantly increased staffing levels within custody suites, a dedicated Female Welfare Officer role, new support links for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, and the automatic provision in cells of dignity packs and sanitary products. This has involved significant financial investment of £3.1 million.

“They have also undertaken comprehensive reviews of their training offers, the use of voluntary attendance, and refreshed training for custody officers.

“We are building the foundations of lasting change to cultures and practices that, sadly, have fallen well short of what people should rightly expect.

“The establishment of an independent scrutiny panel that will hold its first meeting next month, reporting to me, will be a vital component in a more robust system of checks and balances in this less publicly visible area of policing.

“While the implementation of these recommendations to date is welcome, it is essential that the improvements brought about are maintained and indeed built upon, and on behalf of the Mayor I will continue to scrutinise GMP as it makes progress in these areas.”

“I join the Mayor in thanking Dame Vera and those who lent their voices to her report. We have heard them, and we are resolutely committed to ensuring that our police force continues on its improvement journey.”