Greater Manchester Police is making 'improvements' to its treatment of women, including new rules on strip searches - but questions remain

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it was making wide-ranging changes to the treatment of women in custody following the Sky News investigation.

This includes ending police strip searches for “welfare” purposes and making it a “last resort” when searching for hidden items.

Sky News investigation in 2023 GMP storage practices It led to an investigation by former victims commissioner Dame Vera Baird.

Report in July 2024 ‘Horror stories’ found of police making ‘illegal’ arrests and sometimes unnecessary strip searches of victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham He described the investigation and the changes police implemented to reduce the number of strip searches as “a tribute to Sky News”.

He said the changes were a “huge moment” that should not be taken lightly.

A report published today by the mayor of Greater Manchester welcomes the introduction of new measures, including additional training for police officers dealing with victims of domestic violence.

However, most victims are not convinced. One of them is Sophie, not her real name, who tells her story for the first time.

He told Sky News that the police complaints department described the arrest as “acceptable” even after the Baird Inquiry found his arrest was “unlawful” and the chief inspector described his treatment as “appalling”.

Sophie’s experience was investigated by Dame Vera, along with other women Sky News spoke to last year.

In the summer of 2022, he was arrested at 3 a.m. and detained for 11 hours following a trivial complaint from his ex-partner. Her accuser was identified by police as a perpetrator of extremely violent, domestic abuse.

Despite this, Sophie was arrested at her home in the middle of the night after her abuser claimed he broke her car’s wing mirror and left her with bruising on her arms when he strangled her 14 months ago.

‘They knew why I was trying to protect myself’

The man who made the claim was someone who punched Sophie, strangled her, pressed his thumbs over her eyes and locked her in the house.

Sophie told Sky News: “There’s a history of domestic violence; there’s a history of incarceration. “They knew what I was going through, they knew what I was trying to protect myself from.

“I was in regular contact with domestic violence support workers who had meetings with police liaison officers. They knew I had changed the locks. They knew there was an alarm at the house and on my phone.”

‘If someone had tried to strangle me, I would have injured his arm too’

Sophie describes the police arrest as “an extension of the repression”. He later refused to accept the police warning and was charged with damaging the rear-view mirror before the judge threw out the case, saying it was not in the public interest.

At a press conference in July this year, Dame Vera said: “Ladies and gentlemen, if someone had tried to strangle me, I would probably have injured their arms too.”

He said the arresting officers had their “brain locked down” and criticized the detention sergeant who noted the reason for the arrest as “protecting a defenseless person,” referring to the violent man.

A series of ‘failures’

At the time, GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson said he was “horrified” by Sophie’s treatment.

He told Sky News: “This is a systemic failure, a leadership failure, a process failure. I think in individual cases it could be a failure of experience.”

However, a month later the police complaints department wrote to Sophie stating that “there are sufficient grounds for your arrest”. The letter told him: “The service provided by the police was acceptable.”

However, police withdrew these findings after Sophie revealed her case was part of the Baird Inquiry.

‘We will ensure that officers face disciplinary investigation’

In a statement to Sky News, GMP said: “The conclusion presented to Sophie was flawed. “After reviewing the handling of the complaint, our head of professional standards issued a personal apology to Sophie and we are ensuring a full re-investigation.

“Complaints relating to the Baird review – including Sophie’s – are subject to fair and thorough review by our Professional Standards Directorate, without fear or favor.

“We will ensure that officers face disciplinary action if an investigation finds there is a case to answer.

‘Another 1,500 survivors of domestic violence are getting justice’

“We are working hard to make sure the people of Greater Manchester, especially women and girls, can have confidence in their police force. This includes providing trauma-informed training for police officers and delivering better outcomes for victims – there are now a further 1,500 victims of domestic violence. Three ensuring justice compared to a year ago.

“Our communities can trust that the force is strong in maintaining good order and discipline. Those unfit to serve are being removed from GMP, with more than 100 officers suspended under the Chief Constable’s watch.”

However, Sky News was told that most complaints relating to the Baird Inquiry are subject to ongoing investigation and no officers have been disciplined or dismissed so far.

’24 out of 26 suggestions were implemented’

In response to the Baird Inquiry, GMP now has a dedicated female welfare officer in custody departments and will soon set up a new independent review panel to review detentions.

According to the mayor’s office, 24 of the 26 recommendations in the investigation have been implemented.

Mr Burnham said: “This is a milestone in our quest to improve the safety and treatment of women in Greater Manchester.

“It’s clear there’s still progress to be made. The deputy mayor and I will continue to hold up a mirror to unacceptable practices wherever we find them.”

Deputy mayor Kate Green added: “Whilst the implementation of these recommendations to date is welcome, it is important that the improvements that have emerged are sustained and indeed built upon, and on behalf of the mayor, GMP, I will continue to review GMP as it progresses in these areas.”

Victim would think twice before going to police again

But Sophie is disappointed and says she’ll think twice about going to the police if she gets back into an abusive relationship.

“It wouldn’t be right for me to report anything right now, I would look at the consequences of me doing that, what might happen as a result of me doing that and how they would treat me,” he said.

“It will take me longer to forget what happened to me that night while I was arrested and locked up than it will to get over being slapped or punched.”

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