Transgender police officers can ᵴtriƥ-search women under new guidance.

The British Transport Police policy allows recently transitioned officers to intimately search women if they have been issued a gender recognition certificate.

Titled ‘Transgender and Non-Binary Search Position’, it was authorised in September by the assistant chief constable for network policing.

It comes after the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) was forced to withdraw similar guidance in January after concerns were raised about women’s safety.

The guidance, seen by the Mail, reads: reads: ‘British Transport Police recognises the status of transgender and non-binary detainees/staff from the moment they permanently identify in that gender with or without a GRC [gender recognition certificate].

‘This means that even when a person has not legally changed their 𝓈ℯ𝓍, we should continue to use the correct pronouns and recognise the person’s gender. BTP officers/staff will only search persons of the same 𝓈ℯ𝓍 as either their 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 certificate or GRC.’

It covers ‘more thorough’ searches which involve the removal of coats, hats and footwear as well as ‘EIP’ or ᵴtriƥ searches which involve the person being searched removing all clothing.

The guidance adds: ‘An officer may only search as the 𝓈ℯ𝓍 indicated on their 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 certificate or listed on their GRC, whichever is the most recent when enacting a statutory power of search under compulsion.’

British Transport Police (BTP) said its guidance is in line with equality laws and that somebody being searched can object to being searched by any officer.

In a separate policy BTP officers are told they can also wear ‘uniform in whichever gender they choose’ and use the changing rooms and showers of their chosen gender identity.

The documents adds that any officers who transition are given a new account on the police computer system as well as a new uniform collar number. They can also order a new warrant card under their chosen name.

The document adds: ‘The individual is not required to provide any proof of the name change such as a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) or deed poll document other than for vetting.’

Cathy Larkman, a retired police officer and national policing lead for the Women’s Rights Network said ᵴtriƥ searches ‘require sensitivity, professionalism and courtesy’ and must only be carried out by someone of the same 𝓈ℯ𝓍.

She added: ‘British Transport Police think that the possession of a GRC conveys some sort of right for a male officer to ᵴtriƥ search a woman, or for a female officer to be pressurised into searching a male detainee.

‘Their eagerness to bring this in despite the clear warnings made indicates that they have forgotten about women’s rights, or at best that these can be dispensed with.’

It comes after a backlash earlier this year saw similar National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) guidance temporarily withdrawn after the Tory government raised concerns.

The NPCC said it was conducting a review of the policy, which had been implemented by the majority of police forces, with forces reverting to previous policies on searching while this is carried out.

Women’s rights campaigners have written to the chief constable of British Transport Police to express their concerns about the policy.

Maya Forstater, CEO of human rights charity Sex Matters, which sent the letter, described the guidance as a ‘shocking breach of human rights’.

She said: ‘BTP’s policy breaches that obligation, treating male officers’ ‘gender identities’ as more important than women’s most fundamental rights.

‘BTP’s policy exposes the absurdity of thinking that a Gender Recognition Certificate gives a man the right to be treated as if he is a woman in a wide range of person-to-person interactions, even in situations involving nudity.’

A BTP spokesman said: ‘An officer may only search as the 𝓈ℯ𝓍 indicated on their 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 certificate or listed on their Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), whichever is more recent when enacting a statutory power of search under compulsion.

‘A person being searched can object to being searched by any officer; this officer will be replaced by another member of the team to conduct the search in their place. This is regularly done in practice for many reasons, such as a way to de-escalate conflict.’