Police apologise to transgender woman for calling her a man

[Shana A]

Police apologise to transgender woman for calling her a man

Published on Monday 19 March 2012 08:00

http://www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/news/local/police-apologise-to-transgender-woman-for-calling-her-a-man-1-4350546

A TRANSGENDER woman who was referred to as a "he" by custody suite staff at St Helens Police Station has had a complaint against her treatment upheld.

Alison Jane Stokes, of Grange Park, made a formal complaint about the conduct of two officers after she was arrested on suspicion of threatening behaviour.

[...]

"As a woman, I should only be searched by a female officer. If I hadn't complained then I would have been searched by a man."

She added: "They never asked me if I had a gender recognition certificate. I felt like I was having to train them up while I was being searched. It was a combination of ignorance and a lack of education.