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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
STV News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Police Scotland to carry out searches 'based on biological sex' after gender ruling
Searches by Police Scotland officers will be carried out on the basis of biological sex following a ruling by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled in April that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex. This means it does not extend to a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate (GRC). The judgment came about after a challenge to the Scottish Government by For Women Scotland. Police Scotland has now issued interim guidance on searches of trans people and by transgender officers. 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. 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, the force says efforts will be made to ensure an appropriate officer conducts the search 'where this is operationally viable'. In these circumstances, the search will require the written consent of the authorising officer (of the minimum rank of inspector), the transgender person to be searched, and the particular 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. 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. 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. The guidance states that a conversation should be undertaken by the detainee to establish biological sex, but if the individual does not engage, a search will be carried out in line with their documentation or presentation until biological sex is established. In addition, transgender officers will only search in line with their biological sex. They 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 are able to refuse to be searched by a transgender officer, in which case the officer would be swapped out. Police Scotland says it has developed the guidance following advice from its legal team and human rights advisor Jane Gordon, as well as engagement with relevant business areas, staff associations, trade unions and the Scottish Government. Assistant chief constable Catriona Paton commented: '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 force has said the interim guidance will be kept under review as it awaits the publication of revised national guidance. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After ‘herculean effort,' UO Portland celebrates grand re-opening at old Concordia campus
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The University of Oregon Portland is beginning a new chapter, celebrating a grand re-opening in a new location in Northeast Portland Thursday evening. After acquiring the former Concordia University campus in June 2022, UO administration made the decision to relocate from its previous space in the White Stag building in Old Town. TriMet to launch new bus line along 148th Ave this weekend Although the university has had a presence in Portland for nearly 150 years, the White Stag building gave it an official home back in 2008, housing programs in business, law, journalism, as well as architecture and design. The new campus will still provide all of the above programs and house six research centers. Further, a gift of $400 million helped launch the new Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health. Further, renovation on the new campus, which holds more than 20 buildings on nearly 400,000 square feet, was completed in 26 months, according to the university. The Portland Pickle chosen as grand marshal of Rose Festival Starlight parade To celebrate, they are holding a , featuring UO President Karl Scholz, UO Portland Vice President Jane Gordon and more. 'This was an ambitious timeline and herculean effort by many to renovate and open this campus in just 26 months,' said Gordon. 'We are excited to celebrate this milestone in our nearly 150-year history in Portland. Those who attend will experience firsthand how UO Portland is boldly and creatively shaping the future and strengthening collaborations that bridge the classroom, industry and community.' The event will take place at the new campus from 4-6 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
