Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says it has made sweeping changes to the treatment of women in custody following a Sky News investigation.

This includes ending the use of police searches for ‘welfare’ purposes and ensuring it is a ‘last resort’ when searching for hidden items.

A 2023 Sky News investigation into GMP custody practices led to an inquiry by former Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird.

In July 2024, the report found “horror stories” of police making “illegal” arrests. and unnecessary searches, sometimes of victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham described the investigation and the changes implemented by the police to reduce the number of strip searches as “a credit to Sky News”.

He said the changes were a “massive moment” that should not be underestimated.

A report today from Greater Manchester City Hall welcomes the introduction of new measures, including extra training for police officers who deal with victims of domestic violence.

However, many victims are not convinced. One of them is Sophie, not her real name, who tells her story for the first time.

She tells Sky News that even after the Baird inquiry found her arrest was “unlawful” and the chief inspector called her treatment “appalling”, the police complaints department later described the arrest as “acceptable”.

Sophie’s experience was investigated by Dame Vera alongside other women Sky News spoke to last year.

She was arrested at 3am in the summer of 2022 and held for 11 hours following a trivial complaint made by her ex-partner. Her accuser was designated by police as an extremely violent domestic abuser.

Even so, Sophie was arrested at her home in the middle of the night after her abuser claimed he smashed her car window 14 months ago and bruised her arms on one occasion when he strangled her .

“They knew why I was trying to protect myself”

The man making the accusation was someone who had hit her, strangled her, pressed his thumbs into Sophie’s eyes and locked her in the house.

Sophie told Sky News: “He has a history of domestic violence; has a history of incarceration. They knew what I had been through, they knew what I was trying to protect myself from.

“I was in regular contact with domestic violence support workers meeting with police liaison officers. They knew I had the locks changed. They knew I had an alert on my house and on my phone.”

“If someone tried to strangle me, I’d bruise their arm too”

Sophie describes the police arrest as “an extension of her coercion”. She later refused to accept a police warning and was charged with the offense of damaging the wing mirror before a judge dismissed the case, saying it was not in the public interest.

At a press conference in July this year, Dame Vera said: “I’m telling you ladies and gentlemen, if someone tried to strangle me, I’d probably bruise their arms too.”

She said the officers who arrested them “locked their brains” and criticized the custody sergeant who recorded his justification for the arrest as “to protect a vulnerable person”, referring to the violent man.

A series of “failures”

At the time, GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson said he was “appalled” by Sophie’s treatment.

He told Sky News: “It is a systemic failure, a failure of leadership, a failure of process. I think in individual circumstances it can be a failure of experience.”

And yet, a month after this, the police complaints department wrote to tell Sophia “there are sufficient grounds for your arrest”. The letter told him: “The service provided by the police was acceptable.”

It was only after Sophie revealed that her case was part of the Baird investigation that the police withdrew these findings.

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“We will ensure officers face disciplinary proceedings”

In a statement, GMP told Sky News: “The result given by Sophie was incorrect. After reviewing the handling of the complaint, our Head of Professional Standards has offered Sophie a personal apology and we are ensuring there is a full new investigation.

“Complaints about the Baird review – including Sophie’s – are given a fair and thorough review, without fear or favour, by our Professional Standards Directorate.

“Where an investigation finds that there is a case for retaliation, we will ensure that officers face disciplinary proceedings.

“Another 1,500 Domestic Abuse Survivors Now Getting Justice”

“We are working hard to ensure that the people of Greater Manchester – especially women and girls – can trust their police force. This includes providing trauma-informed training for officers and achieving better outcomes for victims – with an additional 1,500 survivors of domestic abuse. getting justice compared to three years ago.

“Our communities can trust that the force is robust in maintaining order and discipline. Those who are unfit to serve are being removed from the GMP, with over 100 officers being dismissed under the Chief Constable’s watch.”

However, Sky News has been told that most of the complaints relating to the Baird inquiry are under ongoing investigation and so far no officers have been disciplined or dismissed.

“24 of 26 recommendations implemented”

In response to the Baird inquiry, GMP now has a dedicated female welfare officer in its custody rooms and is soon to introduce a new independent watchdog to oversee arrests.

According to the mayor’s office, 24 of the 26 recommendations from the investigation have been implemented.

Mr Burnham said: “This is a landmark moment in our quest to improve the safety and treatment of women in Greater Manchester.

“It’s clear that there is more progress to be made. The Deputy Mayor and I will continue to hold up a mirror to unacceptable practices wherever we find them.”

Deputy Mayor Kate Green added: “While the implementation of these recommendations to date is welcome, it is essential that the improvements made are maintained and indeed built on, and on behalf of the Mayor I will continue to review the GMP as progress in these areas”.

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The victim would think twice before going to the police again

However, Sophie feels disappointed and says that if she were in an abusive relationship again, she would think twice about going to the police.

“I wouldn’t be okay reporting anything now, I would look at the consequences of me doing that and what could happen as a result of me doing that and how they would treat me,” she said.

“It’s going to take me longer to get over what happened to me that night when I was arrested and locked up than it will take me to get over being slapped or punched.”