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Trans police officers are being allowed to carry multiple warrant cards depending on the gender they choose, a series of Freedom of Information requests have revealed.
Two thirds of police forces were also found to let trans officers who are biologically male use women’s showers, toilets and changing rooms.
Women’s rights campaigners and MPs have criticised the move claiming the policies pose a threat to females.
Eleven of the 47 constabularies questioned say they allow trans officers to carry multiple warrant cards, including one if they are “gender fluid”.
Meanwhile, 28 forces say they let trans staff use the facilities of the gender with which they identify. Five forces failed to respond.
Police use warrant cards to identify themselves formally as law enforcement officers.
The identification document must be produced when police use a variety of powers, including stop and search.
‘Violation of women’s dignity’
Maya Forstater, executive director of charity Sex Matters told the Daily Mail: “Allowing any man – whatever he calls himself and whatever he is wearing – to walk into women’s showers, changing rooms and toilets, or to search, including strip search, women is a violation of women’s dignity and an abuse of power.
“Female police officers, suspects and victims should be given respect and protected from abuse, but instead police forces are using them as props to validate trans-identifying male officers.
“Police forces carrying out these policies are engaging in state-sponsored harassment and sexual assault.”
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, added: “Biological males should under no circumstances be using female facilities – in police stations or anywhere else. The Government must review this approach and put the safety of women first.”
The newspaper contacted all 43 forces in England and Wales, as well as Police Scotland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), British Transport Police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
Thames Valley Police, Essex, Leicestershire, Avon and Somerset, Dyfed Powys, Merseyside and Police Scotland already allow biologically male trans officers to use women’s facilities.
Thames Valley is among the 11 forces that allow officers to carry multiple warrant cards, as are Norfolk, Cheshire and Leicestershire.
Others such as Bedfordshire and Essex say they allow two warrant cards.
Essex’s policy outlines how during early transition “there may be a need to have two warrant cards, so that any off-duty incidents while living in acquired gender, do not result in the staff member having to ‘out’ themselves when proving identity”.
Seven other forces – including the Met, West Midlands Police and Cumbria – said they were reviewing their trans policies. Seven other forces – including North Wales, Hampshire, Northumbria and Lancashire – said they had no such policy.
Northamptonshire, Surrey, North Yorkshire, British Transport Police and the PSNI failed to respond to the Freedom of Information request.
‘Individual is able to choose’
Norfolk’s policy is outlined in a document called Trans Equality at Work (Officers and Staff).
It says: “All trans individuals are entitled to use the toilet, shower and changing facilities appropriate to their gender identity.
“Where this does not fit a binary definition of gender, the individual is able to choose where they feel most comfortable.
A College of Policing spokesman said: “All employers, including policing, are required to comply with the Equality Act, and equality legislation set by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.”
A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesman said each force is “operationally independent”, so policies are prepared “locally”.
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