The British Transport Police (BTP) has introduced a controversial policy that permits transgender officers to conduct strip searches on women, provided they hold a gender recognition certificate (GRC). This guidance, titled Transgender and Non-Binary Search Position, was authorised in September by the assistant chief constable of network policing. The decision comes after the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) withdrew similar guidelines earlier this year due to safety concerns, according to the Daily Mail.
The policy allows transgender and non-binary officers to perform searches aligned with the sex listed on their birth certificate or GRC, regardless of their biological sex. These searches may include removing outer clothing such as coats and footwear and, in certain circumstances, conducting full strip searches.
