College of Policing guidance states that women must be
automatically offered access to a female officer and
hygiene pack. But the ICVA found poor practice among
forces, with women being left without basic sanitary
protection in police cells. Examples included a force
not providing tampons for safety reasons, female
detainees being stripped of all clothing including
underwear and placed in paper suits with no menstrual
products being offered, a lack of access to
hand-washing facilities and concerns about the use of
CCTV in cells.
The Home Office has been working with ICVA and today
publishes proposals to make clear the police’s
responsibilities towards women in custody. The draft
revisions to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act
(PACE) codes of practice will ensure that:
- arrangements are in place for all female detainees
to speak to a female member of staff if requested
- female detainees are asked at the earliest
opportunity if they are likely to require any menstrual
products while in police custody and made aware that
these will be provided free of charge
- the dignity of menstruating detainees in police
custody is considered
Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, , said:
Everyone who is held in custody should be treated
with dignity and have their needs respected.
Our proposals should leave forces across the country
in no doubt of their responsibilities towards women
in custody.
After receiving the letter from ICVA, the then Home
Secretary wrote to all chief constables asking them to
review relevant policies and procedures in their
forces.
The 6-week consultation launched today comes as the
National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and College of
Policing produces new operational guidance for police
regarding the treatment of female detainees in police
custody.
Katie Kempen, Chief Executive of the Independent
Custody Visiting Association, said:
Independent custody visitors invest their time
visiting police custody to monitor detainee
wellbeing; the Home Office has acted quickly and
decisively in response to our reports of shocking
conditions for menstruating detainees.
The proposed changes to PACE are a significant step
forward in ensuring that the dignity of female
detainees is upheld in police cells.
