A new report reveals sexism in Greater Manchester Police – like the Met last year.
Do you remember the Casey report on the Metropolitan Police, that found it to be racist, sexist and homophobic?
Now Dame Vera Baird has reported on her inquiry into Greater Manchester Police’s treatment of women in custody – and revealed what could be described as misogyny on a monstrous scale.
The inquiry was launched in response to a Sky News investigation into GMP’ treatment of three women in custody in one police station, but has broadened to look at problems in all but one of Greater Manchester’s police stations.
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Now, according to Sky News,
It says officers are “using their power unwisely, unnecessarily, and sometimes unlawfully”.
“If these officers are examples of the culture in GMP it seems to be one of exercising power they don’t have, as and when they wish, without expecting to be held to account for it.”
Part of the reason this has been allowed to happen is because of an ineffective complaints system described by the review as “evasive, defensive or aggressive in tone and rejecting any police error”.
The report is particularly concerned about a readiness of police to criminalise women who have been the victims of male violence.
The report suggests unlawful arrests “may be endemic in GMP” possibly influenced by decisions made at the most senior level. It states: “The strategic priority to increase arrests may be driving unwise and unlawful arrests.”
GMP has been on a drive to increase the number of arrests since it was placed under “special measures” in December 2020 after a report revealed an estimated 80,000 crimes had not been properly recorded.
Prime symptom of GMP’s condition is officers’ keenness to strip-search women on any excuse, no matter how flimsy.
Often no reason for a strip search was given and they are frequently unrecorded in the custody records. Everyone giving evidence to the inquiry, who had been strip-searched, said officers were on a “power trip”.
The report notes detainees being denied their medication or basic personal necessities, like toilet paper and sanitary protection, or access to suitable toilet facilities.
According to Sky,
GMP says it has already introduced the following changes:
- It no longer uses anti-tear clothing;
- Every female detainee has a dedicated female welfare officer assigned to her;
- Bespoke sealed packs, which contain feminine sanitary products, are proactively issued for all female detainees;
- Strip searches are more transparently recorded, tightly governed and scrutinised;
- A centralised standards and compliance team now examine between 150-200 examples of detentions per month to ensure adherence to the highest standards.
But police forces can say what they like.
Let’s have a surprise inspection every now and then and see how these police measure up then. But here’s the big question:
How many more police forces are the same as GMP and the Met?
Source: Greater Manchester Police report reveals officers’ demeaning strip searches, unlawful arrests and retraumatising of victims | UK News | Sky News
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Report reveals sexism in Greater Manchester Police – like the Met
A new report reveals sexism in Greater Manchester Police – like the Met last year.
Do you remember the Casey report on the Metropolitan Police, that found it to be racist, sexist and homophobic?
Now Dame Vera Baird has reported on her inquiry into Greater Manchester Police’s treatment of women in custody – and revealed what could be described as misogyny on a monstrous scale.
The inquiry was launched in response to a Sky News investigation into GMP’ treatment of three women in custody in one police station, but has broadened to look at problems in all but one of Greater Manchester’s police stations.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Now, according to Sky News,
Prime symptom of GMP’s condition is officers’ keenness to strip-search women on any excuse, no matter how flimsy.
Often no reason for a strip search was given and they are frequently unrecorded in the custody records. Everyone giving evidence to the inquiry, who had been strip-searched, said officers were on a “power trip”.
The report notes detainees being denied their medication or basic personal necessities, like toilet paper and sanitary protection, or access to suitable toilet facilities.
According to Sky,
But police forces can say what they like.
Let’s have a surprise inspection every now and then and see how these police measure up then. But here’s the big question:
How many more police forces are the same as GMP and the Met?
Source: Greater Manchester Police report reveals officers’ demeaning strip searches, unlawful arrests and retraumatising of victims | UK News | Sky News
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
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2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Join the uPopulus group at https://upopulus.com/groups/vox-political/
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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