Significant progress made following Baird review
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has made significant progress in implementing 24 out of 26 recommendations from Dame Vera Baird's review, focusing on improving the treatment of women and men in custody. Key improvements include ending strip searches for welfare purposes, refreshed officer training, and trauma-informed training for frontline officers. The progress is being scrutinized by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and other independent bodies.
Greater Manchester Police have implemented 24 of 26 recommendations from Dame Vera Baird’s damning review of custody treatment, Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods announced today.
The force has ended strip searches for welfare purposes, mandated female welfare officers for female suspects, and begun rolling out trauma-informed training to all frontline officers. Every woman taken into custody now receives dignity packs containing sanitary products, while officer training on voluntary attendance interviews has been refreshed.
“We take full responsibility for implementing the recommendations with a view to making lasting improvements,” Woods said. “Dame Vera’s report was a disturbing read which highlighted some troubling truths.”
The July 2024 review examined GMP’s arrest practices, care for domestic and sexual abuse survivors, and complaint handling procedures. The changes build on progress made following His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services criticism in February 2023.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Inspectorate, and Independent Custody Visitors provide ongoing scrutiny of the reforms. The force aims to become a national exemplar for custody provision while supporting national partners in improving treatment standards across UK policing.
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