Latest news with #CatrionaPaton
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Uniformed cops unable to participate in Stirling Pride events after ruling
The change - prompted by a court ruling in England over police impartiality in trans/gender-critical debates - will mean cops will only attend the Stirling festival in their traditional public safety role. Disappointed Stirling Pride organisers are warning a decision by Police Scotland not to take part in the event could damage relationships between cops and the LGBTQ+ community. While police will still be deployed to ensure the public attending the event next month are safe, they can no longer participate in any of the activities. Last year saw the police play an active role in the festival, a celebration of LGBTQ+ social and self-acceptance, achievements, legal rights, and pride. However, in a statement issued by Stirling Pride organisers, they said that - despite otherwise positive relationships between local officers and the community - the police would not be involved. They said: 'Today we have been advised that Police Scotland will not participate in Stirling Pride 2025. 'This means that there will be no Police Scotland stall, no presence in the march and no vehicle at Pride this year. This is a significant change from last year, where Police Scotland's participation was noted as a positive addition to the event.' The organisers said the decision appeared to have been made following a court case in England brought by an individual, that police should not participate in Pride events as this could be a breach of their impartiality should there be a dispute between trans and gender critical people. They added: 'The LGBTQ+ community have long had a very difficult relationship with police and this step will be seen as a capitulation to the anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ lobby. 'Police Scotland have made significant efforts to improve relations with the LGBTQ+ community, however this regressive step is a partial decision based on the view of a minority who are actively anti-trans. 'This will not only damage relations and increase suspicion between the LGBTQ+ community and Police Scotland as an organisation. 'Stirling Pride has a good relationship with local police in Stirling and value the co-working we have had to bring safe events to the area, which makes it all the more disappointing that Police Scotland have made this decision.' Police Scotland, however, said there would still be close engagement. Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: 'Police Scotland has vast experience in policing events and we will continue to do so in a professional, engaging, and proportionate manner. 'Pride events will be no different and we will engage closely with event organisers, although no officers will participate in forthcoming events in uniform. 'We are reviewing the UK High Court judgment on Northumbria Police's participation in Newcastle Pride 2024 and its implications. 'We will ensure Police Scotland's response to events continues to be in line with our values and code of ethics, providing a professional and impartial service which upholds the human rights of all.' RuPaul Drag Race stars Tia Kofi and Chanel O'Conor have been announced as headliners of Stirling Pride 2025 alongside award winning piper, fiddler and composer Malin Lewis. Stirling Pride will return on Saturday September 20 with 18 acts announced to perform across a dozen venues in the city centre. Events take place all day with the majority of events being free to attend and open to all LGBTQ+ people and allies. For further details visit:
Edinburgh Reporter
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Police issue interim guidance around searching of transgender persons
Interim guidance around searching of transgender persons and searching by transgender officers and staff has been issued. The guidance has been developed in response to the UK Supreme Court judgment that the terms 'man', 'woman', and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010, refer to biological sex (i.e. the sex of a person at birth.) Following the judgment, Police Scotland must ensure that it is acting in line with its duties under the Equality Act and the Human Rights Act, and that officers and staff feel confident that they are conducting searches lawfully. As part of this work the Service has been reviewing affected areas of operational policing, including the procedure for conducting certain kinds of searches, to provide clarity to our colleagues and communities. The guidance states that officers and staff will undertake all searches whether in custody or as part of a stop and search interaction, which involve the removal of more than a jacket, gloves, headgear or footwear, on the basis of biological sex. The guidance also states that when an individual, whose lived gender differs from their biological sex is subject to search and requests to be searched by an officer of their lived gender, efforts will be made to ensure an appropriate officer conducts the search, where this is operationally viable to do so. In these circumstances written consent will be required from the authorising officer (Inspector rank or above), the person to be searched, and the officer(s) conducting the search. The guidance has been developed following extensive advice from our legal team and independent Human Rights Advisor, Jane Gordon, as well as engagement with relevant business areas, staff associations, trade unions, the Scottish Government and other key partners. Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: 'This is a complex and important area of policing and searching members of the public is a significant intrusion of their personal liberty and privacy. 'It is critical that as an organisation, Police Scotland continues to fulfil its legal duties as well as ensuring officers and staff feel confident that they are conducting searches lawfully. 'While the guidance will bring clarity to both our colleagues and members of the public, we are acutely aware of the impact and depth of feeling around this issue, both among the transgender community and those who hold gender critical views. 'Our priority continues to be ensuring that in all our interactions we police and make decisions in line with our service values of integrity, fairness, respect and upholding human rights.' The interim guidance will be kept under review, with ongoing legal advice and engagement with key stakeholders, as we await the publication of revised national guidance around this issue. Police Scotland's wider review into sex and gender is ongoing and further updates will be issued in due course. Like this: Like Related
The National
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Police Scotland to carry out searches 'based on biological sex'
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said the new guidance was designed to provide clarity around a 'complex and important area' of policing. READ MORE: SNP Government 'to cut spending by £2.6 billion per year', Finance Secretary says Police Scotland, the UK's second largest force after the Met, said it must ensure it is acting in line with its duties under the Equality Act and the Human Rights Act and that officers and staff must feel confident that they are conducting searches lawfully. Guidance from the force states that officers and staff will undertake all searches, whether in custody or as part of a stop and search interaction, which involve the removal of more than a jacket, gloves, headgear, or footwear, on the basis of biological sex. If an individual whose gender differs from their biological sex is subject to search and asks to be searched by an officer of their gender identity, guidelines state that efforts will be made to ensure an appropriate officer conducts the search 'where this is operationally viable'. The guidelines added that in these circumstances, the search will require the written consent of the authorising officer, the transgender person to be searched, and the officer who will conduct the search. Police Scotland officers can refuse to search a transgender detainee under the guidance. Transgender detainees will also be given the option to ask for a separate area search depending on their anatomical presentation and if there are no officers willing to conduct a search in line with the person's gender identity, the detainee will be supervised until a suitable officer is found. (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) The guidance added that if a willing officer is not found within a 'reasonable time' or the 'risk is deemed to be too great', a search will be carried out by an officer of the same biological sex of the detainee. Transgender officers will only search in line with their biological sex and can also be exempt from searching. A transgender officer can search a transgender detainee if they are of the same biological sex, but if they are of different biological sexes, both parties would need to consent to the search. Detainees can refuse to be searched by a transgender officer, in which case the officer would be swapped out. Assistant Chief Constable Paton said it is crucial that Police Scotland continues to fulfil its legal duties while ensuring officers and staff feel confident in conducting searches lawfully. She said: 'This is a complex and important area of policing, and searching members of the public is a significant intrusion of their personal liberty and privacy.
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scots cops searches to be on 'biological sex' after Supreme Court ruling
Police Scotland has issued new interim guidance requiring certain searches to be conducted based on a person's biological sex. Police searches in Scotland will be made by officers of the same biological sex following the landmark UK Supreme Court ruling on gender. Police Scotland issued interim guidance on searching transgender individuals on Wednesday, which has been developed n response to April's Supreme Court judgement that the terms 'man', 'woman', and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010, refer to the sex of a person at birth. It states that searches involving removal of more than outerwear (e.g., jackets, gloves, headgear, footwear), whether in custody or as part of a stop and search interaction, must be conducted based on biological sex. However, if a transgender individual requests to be searched by an officer matching their lived gender, efforts will be made to accommodate this if operationally viable. In such cases, written consent is required from the authorising officer (Inspector rank or above), the person to be searched, and the officer(s) conducting the search. The guidance aims to ensure legal compliance and provide clarity for officers, developed with input from legal experts, human rights advisors, the Scottish Government, and other stakeholders. Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton emphasised the importance of balancing legal obligations with respect for personal dignity and human rights. She said: "This is a complex and important area of policing and searching members of the public is a significant intrusion of their personal liberty and privacy. 'It is critical that as an organisation, Police Scotland continues to fulfil its legal duties as well as ensuring officers and staff feel confident that they are conducting searches lawfully. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'While the guidance will bring clarity to both our colleagues and members of the public, we are acutely aware of the impact and depth of feeling around this issue, both among the transgender community and those who hold gender critical views. 'Our priority continues to be ensuring that in all our interactions we police and make decisions in line with our service values of integrity, fairness, respect and upholding human rights.' Police Scotland said it must ensure that it is acting in line with its duties under the Equality Act and the Human Rights Act, and that officers and staff feel confident that they are conducting searches lawfully. April's ruling on the definition of a woman came after SNP ministers lost a long-running legal challenge brought by the For Women Scotland campaign group over gender self-identification. It has had many implications across services such as access to single-sex spaces. Police Scotland said the had to review affected areas of operational policing, including the procedure for conducting certain kinds of searches. The interim guidance will be kept under review, as the forces awaits the publication of revised national guidance around the issue. They confirmed that Police Scotland's wider review into sex and gender is ongoing and further updates will be issued in due course.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Police searches to be based on biological sex
Police Scotland has issued interim guidance around searching transgender people after the landmark UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a force's new five-page document, which covers searches carried out by transgender officers and staff, says searches will be undertaken on the basis of biological April a judge ruled that under equalities law, sex is binary - meaning legally it should be interpreted as referring to either a biological man or a biological Chief Constable Catriona Paton said the new guidance was designed to provide clarity around a "complex and important area" of policing. The force, the UK's second largest after the Met, said it must ensure it is acting in line with its duties under the Equality Act and the Human Rights added that officers and staff must feel confident that they are conducting searches guidance said all searches - in custody or elsewhere - must be undertaken on the basis of biological also covers scenarios such as an individual, whose lived gender differs from their biological sex, requesting to be searched by an officer of their lived that happen then efforts will be made to ensure an appropriate officer conducts the search as long as it is "operationally viable".The guidance said written consent would be required from the authorising officer, the person to be searched, and any officers involved in the day after the Supreme Court ruling British Transport Police confirmed trans women arrested on the railways would in future be strip-searched by male also said same-sex searches in custody would be conducted "in accordance with the biological birth sex of the detainee" under updated guidance for public bodies. 'Legal duties' Assistant Chief Constable Paton said: "This is a complex and important area of policing and searching members of the public is a significant intrusion of their personal liberty and privacy."It is critical that as an organisation, Police Scotland continues to fulfil its legal duties as well as ensuring officers and staff feel confident that they are conducting searches lawfully."While the guidance will bring clarity to both our colleagues and members of the public, we are acutely aware of the impact and depth of feeling around this issue, both among the transgender community and those who hold gender critical views."The senior officer said the force's priority was to ensure decisions were made in line with its service values of "integrity, fairness, respect and upholding human rights".Assistant Chief Constable Paton said the interim guidance would be kept under review as the force awaits the publication of revised national guidance around this week women's rights campaigners handed the Scottish government a deadline to comply with the UK Supreme Court's ruling on biological response the Scottish government said it accepted the Supreme Court judgement and was awaiting new guidance from the Equality and Human Rights new police guidance was developed following advice from the force's legal team and independent human rights advisor, Jane including businesses, staff associations, trade unions, the Scottish government were also Scotland said its wider review into sex and gender was ongoing and further updates would be issued in due Scotland News has asked the Scottish Police Federation and the Scottish government for comment.
