News / Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Bristol trans woman: ‘I was stripped and humiliated at the hands of the police’
A Bristol trans woman was stripped, sprayed in the eyes and suffered an assault at the hands of officers while in police custody.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary has issued an apology after admitting discrimination and one incident of assault, and agreed to pay substantial damages in what has been deemed a landmark case.
The woman, known only as Ms C to protect her anonymity, says she has been left traumatised and continues to have nightmares about the incident, but she has spoken out in the hope that others do not have to face the abuse she suffered.
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Ms C has a history of mental health issues and it was on October 15 2015, that she was taken into Southmead Hospital after a suicide attempt.
She told Bristol24/7 that when she regained consciousness, she was deemed medically fit to leave, but was still mentally unwell and attempted to commit suicide within the hospital.
At this point, police were called and Ms C was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and taken to Patchway Police Station while still in a drowsy state from the medication she had taken.
“I was very confused and they were asking me a lot of questions,” Ms C told Bristol24/7.
“One officer asked ‘Are you a man or a woman today?’ I was clearly wearing women’s clothes. My body shows that I am female, I had documentation on me to prove this. I have been diagnosed with gender dysmorphia. Yet they chose to take the path of treating me like a male.
“I was so distressed and the next thing I know, I have five police officers, three male and two female, demanding that they take my clothes. I put my hands up in front of me to shield myself and said that I am female.
“It was humiliating to me. The next thing, they pulled me to the floor. They had me restrained on the floor and I was trying to resist them removing my clothes. Then I got sprayed directly in the eyes and I could not resist it any more. They left me naked in the cell.”
Ms C was forced to splash water from the toilet on her face just to relieve the pain from the spray. Later, police did return her clothes, but Ms C said they did it slowly, item by item, before she was released and charged for damaging to the hospital light fitting.
The police subsequently admitted two of the charges brought against them, agreeing that the presence of male officers during a strip search was unlawful discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment and admitting that an officer pushing the claimant in the head was an assault. The case was settled out of court.
Jane Ryan, of Bhatt Murphy solicitors, said: “A formal admission of liability for discrimination by a police force on the basis of gender reassignment in a non-employment context is unprecedented in this jurisdiction.
“It is hoped that this will encourage non-discriminatory practice by police forces nationwide.”
A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said: “We can confirm that this claim has been settled and we’ve issued a written apology to the complainant.
“We will also make sure that any learning from cases such as these is disseminated to all the appropriate areas of the force.”
Ms C is being supported by Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI), and LGBT Bristol via their Bristol Hate Crime Services partnership.
Any trans person needing police help is advised to go directly to the LGBT liaison team, which can be reached via www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/newsroom/features/our-lgbt-liaison-team-working-with-local-communities/
Read more: Bristol Voices: Cheryl Morgan
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