Avon and Somerset Constabulary has denied it is "sanctioning serious sexual offences within its own ranks" over its treatment of female police officers.

The police force has policies in place to protect both its female officers and female members of the public, such as ensuring strip searches of a suspect are carried out by an officer of the same sex.

Several women raised concerns about the force's record in this area when the Avon and Somerset police and crime panel met in Taunton on Tuesday morning (February 4), claiming that women's trust in the police force was "at an all-time low".

Police and crime commissioner Clare Moody said that she took women's welfare very seriously and proper procedures and arrangements were in place to prevent sexual assault or related traumawith respect to both officers and the public.

Charlotte Revely was one of several women who spoke at the meeting before the panel voted to approve the police force's annual budget for the coming year.

She said: "Many women and girls would feel safer or prefer to report such crimes to a female officer where possible, and their overall trust and confidence would be increased by seeing more female police officers in general.

"However, at a hustings in April 2024, prior to the police and crime commissioner election, reference was made to the fact that Avon and Somerset has a problem with the recruitment and retention of female officers.

"I suggested that one reason for this may be your trans guidance, which allows officers to use the facilities they feel most comfortable in – for example, a male officer identifying as non-binary (not a legally recognised status) or as a woman could opt from day one to use the women's facilities.

"In addition, the policy goes on to state that an individual who identifies as genderfluid (also not a legally recognised status) may hold two warrant cards to reflect their different genders on different days.

"Presumably, said officer could identify as male on Monday and female on Tuesday, with access to women's facilities on the days he decides he isn't identifying as male."

Ms Revely opined that difficulties in recruiting and retaining female officers could partially be caused by women having to share showering or locker room areas with transgender people.

She said: "There seems to be scant regard for the comfort of the female officers in this scenario, who may be forced to undress or shower with trans-identifying men. It is hard to understand how this circumstance differs from voyeurism or indecent exposure.

"Most women would object to this as discriminatory, criminal behaviour and a gross invasion of their privacy – yet it seems the police are sanctioning serious sexual offences within their own ranks.

"Can Ms Moody now confirm whether this remains current policy, both with regard to facilities access and multiple warrant cards?

"If not, can she confirm when it was removed, and what current guidance is in place for transgender officers regarding showers and locker room facilities and the issue of multiple warrant cards?"

Ms Moody – who was elected in May 2024 – said that the police complied vigorously with all necessary guidance regarding toilets, changing room and shower facilities in order to ensure staff were safe at all times.

She said: "Under UK law, employers have specific responsibilities regarding toilets, showers and changing facilities – thee are governed by health and safety laws and welfare regulations, along with the Equality Act 2010.

"Employeers are required to provide separate sex-based facilities, with flexibility for gender-neutral or private options.

"Single-sex facilities and shower areas facfilties are available for staff, along with gender-neutral facilities – these are designed to be private lockable rooms to ensure safety.

"In short, the design and provision of toilets, showers and changing facilities are intended to prevent any situation where women must undress with trans men."

Regarding warrant cards, she added: "Colleagues can only present one warrant card at a time. If a staff member is transitioning, they can update their warrant card to indicate their status.

"There is no evidence that Avon and Somerset faces any unique challenges in the recruitment and retention of female officers."

Women currently make up 37.9 per cent of serving Avon and Somerset police officers (compared to 35.4 per cent nationally) and 51.3 per cent of the whole workforce, according to Ms Moody.

Similar concerns over women's welfare were raised at the same meeting by Chard resident Jodie Green and Claire Loneragan, the latter of whom is part of the Women's Rights Network.

Ms Green said: "The trust and confidence women have in the police is at an all-time low.

"Do you ensure that equality impact assessments are carried out when the police develop their policies such as searching?

"Does Ms Moody ensure representatives from all groups are consulted during a policy's development (for example, women's groups) – and if not, why not?"

Ms Loneragan added: "You have recently amended your earch policies to state that more thorough searches (including strip searches) must be conducted by an officer or staff member of the same sex as the person to be searched.

"This change in policy aligns with objectives, because to be strip searched by a male (however he presents) is traumatic for women and girls, and a form of sexual violence.

"Has the chief constable Sarah Crew formally agreed to this new policy, and will the police and crime commissioner Clare Moody ensure that officers and staff are trained in the new policy?"

Ms Moody responded: "I have sought reassurance from on the chief constable, and the police force has a robust way of implementing policy.

"Diversity, inclusion and equality are at the heart of policy develpment. This helps us to better understand the communities that we serve.

"Environmental impact assessments are an important source of information.

"The custody standard operational procedure provides guidance for officers on custody duty, including searching individuals, and conforms with national policing policy and guidance."