GMP review date confirmed after allegations of “unjustified strip searches” of women

Photo: GMCA

Deputy mayor Kate Green

Allegations made against Greater Manchester Police on how women are treated in custody will be reviewed next month, it has been confirmed.

The delayed review, known as The Baird Review, came about by a series of allegations made against the force from multiple women who came forward last summer.

They alleged that officers performed unjustified strip searches while in custody.

That led to mayor Andy Burnham and deputy mayor Kate Green commissioning the review, led by Dame Vera Baird – a former police and crime commissioner and national victims’ commissioner. It was open to a much wider group of people than three original complainants.

Initially, the report was supposed to be released in autumn 2023, but this was then revised to ‘by the end of the mayoral term’ in late January. However, ‘due diligence’ checks took longer than anticipated.

That meant by mid-February, publication was delayed until after the May election.

Now, the mayor has confirmed a publication date has been set, speaking at a Greater Manchester Police, Fire, and Crime panel meeting on Tuesday 14 May.

He said: “I thought it was important to provide an update on the report into custody in Greater Manchester and the treatment of women in custody.

“[High profile media reports] led to a discussion where we agreed to approach Dame Vera Baird to conduct a review of the treatment of women in custody. We opened it up to other people, not just those in the media reports.

“A date of 10 June has been set to publish the report and stakeholders have been informed.”

Ethan Davies, Local Democracy Reporter