We were in the High Court today for the hearing in our judicial review against National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) abusive searching guidance. This guidance permits a detainee to be strip-searched by an officer of the opposite sex on the basis that both the detainee and officer “consent” to this. We think this is unlawful. Under “PACE” – the main law governing police conduct – strip searches MUST be carried out by an officer of the same sex. This protects officers as well as detainees. Our argument is simple: PACE is the only lawful basis for police searching, and it doesn’t permit opposite-sex searches that go beyond outer wear. Opposite-sex searches are unsafe and unlawful treatment of vulnerable detainees. We also think the guidance is discrimination against and harassment of female officers. Judgment was reserved, meaning it will be handed down at a later date. Pictured (from left to right): Cathy Larkman (@JackMerched), retired superintendent and policing lead for @WomensRightsNetwork; Sex Matters’ @hjoycegender, @mforstater and @derrybanshee; and Rachel Fletcher, Chair of Police SEEN (@PoliceSEENUK, a network of serving police officers).
