New Rules for Trans Police Officers: Once Again Excluding Vulnerable Women

This article came up on my Facebook feed via a Feminist campaigner. Effectively, any police officer in possession of a gender recognition certificate [the legal document which changes the gender of the person on the birth certificate] can carry out an intimate body search on a person of the same gender; regardless of whether or not the officer has transitioned. The person being searched will have no choice in who they are searched by.

I happen to think this is one situation where there is a very obvious and simple compromise that could be made to deal with the practical realities of people's particular vulnerabilities. I do not see why those who are uncomfortable being searched by a trans* police officer, particularly those who have experienced prior abuse at the hands of the police or are victims of sexual violence, be allowed the choice of being searched by someone who does not make them uncomfortable. This isn't about prejudice. It's about acknowledging the fact that a lot of people who come into contact with the police are vulnerable and many do have mental health issues which need to be addressed.

I don't think this would be such a problem, except for a minority of people, if it weren't for the fact that the police have a long history of abuse of vulnerable people; including sexual abuse. Frankly, in my few dealings with the police at protests [including ones mostly starring small children protesting school closures], I have experience abuse and outright lies by police officers [and not just because of their tendency to attend protests without visible badge numbers]. I have very little faith in vulnerable people being dealt with fairly or with any kind of consideration and understanding. This decision, whilst beneficial for Trans* officers, isn't good for vulnerable women. And, it is inherently unkind to privilege one group at the expense of another; especially not when there are some very simple compromises which could be made without hurting anyone.