Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has announced significant changes to its handling of women in custody, following a Sky News investigation that exposed troubling practices, including unlawful arrests and unnecessary strip searches. The inquiry, led by former victims’ commissioner Dame Vera Baird, highlighted systemic failures in the force, particularly in cases involving domestic violence survivors.
According to The Sky News, one of the most notable changes is the discontinuation of police strip searches for “welfare” purposes, with the force committing to using such measures only as a last resort when searching for concealed items. Additional training has also been introduced for officers dealing with victims of domestic abuse.
The reforms were welcomed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who credited the changes to the investigative journalism of Sky News. “This is a massive moment,” he said. “It should not be underestimated.”
However, not all victims are convinced. Sophie, whose identity has been anonymized, shared her harrowing experience for the first time, shedding light on what she describes as an extension of her abuser’s coercive control.
In 2022, Sophie was arrested at her home in the early hours of the morning following a complaint by her ex-partner, a man with a known history of domestic violence. He accused her of damaging his car wing mirror 14 months prior, a claim she denies.
The same man had previously punched, strangled, and locked Sophie in her home, incidents she reported to the police while receiving support from domestic violence workers. Yet, despite this context, officers arrested her at 3 a.m.
“He’s got a history of domestic violence; he’s got a history of being incarcerated,” Sophie told Sky News. “They knew what I’d gone through, they knew what I was trying to protect myself from.”
Sophie refused to accept a police caution and was eventually charged, though the case was thrown out by a judge who deemed it not in the public interest. Reflecting on her ordeal, Sophie said, “It’s going to take me longer to get over what happened to me that night in being arrested and being locked up than getting over being slapped or punched.”
At a press conference earlier this year, Dame Vera criticized the actions of GMP officers, said, “If someone tried to strangle me, I’d probably bruise his arms as well.” She also condemned the custody sergeant’s justification for the arrest, calling it deeply flawed.
GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson described Sophie’s treatment as “appalling” and acknowledged systemic failures within the force. Despite this, Sophie initially received a letter from the police complaints department stating her arrest was justified, a finding that was later retracted after her case was linked to the Baird Inquiry.
In response, GMP apologized to Sophie and pledged to reinvestigate her case. The force also outlined measures aimed at restoring public confidence, including the appointment of a female welfare officer in custody suites and the establishment of an independent oversight panel.
“We are working hard to ensure that the people of Greater Manchester—particularly women and girls—can have confidence in their police force,” a GMP spokesperson said, adding that over 100 officers have been dismissed under the current Chief Constable’s leadership.
According to the Greater Manchester mayor’s office, 24 of the 26 recommendations from the Baird Inquiry have been implemented. Deputy Mayor Kate Green called for sustained progress, stating, “It is essential that the improvements brought about are maintained and indeed built upon.”
Despite the reforms, Sophie remains wary. “If I was in an abusive relationship again, I would think twice about going to the police,” she said. “I would look at the consequences of me doing that, and what could happen as a result of me doing that.”
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