Following a landmark decision from the Supreme Court, transgender officers within the British Transport Police (BTP) are now prohibited from carrying out intimate searches of women. This significant shift in policy was reported by GB News.
Internal guidance circulated to BTP staff indicates that any future searches involving individuals identified with a particular sex will be conducted based on their biological characteristics, as an interim measure.
“We will provide further clarity once we have had a chance to digest the judgment,” stated Deputy Chief Constable Alistair Sutherland in a message to officers.
The Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling clarified that for legal purposes under the Equality Act 2010, terms like “woman” and “sex” refer exclusively to biological sex, not gender identity.
Staff were advised that those affected by this change are encouraged to seek support through the BTP’s Wellbeing Hub.
This policy adjustment stems from ongoing legal challenges brought forth by gender-critical campaigners contesting a previous BTP practice. The controversial policy, initially reported by The Telegraph, previously permitted officers who identify as women, even without a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), to conduct intimate searches of female individuals.
BTP had defended this approach, asserting it was compliant with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. However, the Sex Matters campaign group challenged the legality of the policy, arguing it violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights—protecting against torture and degrading treatment.
Last year, Sex Matters formally objected to this practice, which distinguished BTP from most other police forces that do not allow transgender officers to conduct searches of women.
BTP previously argued against the claims of risk, stating:
- Parliament has established strict requirements for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate.
- Simply identifying as female is insufficient for securing one.
The BTP has been contacted for an official statement.
