GMP respond to allegations they are withholding CCTV footage amid unjustified strip search claims

Greater Manchester Police has responded to allegations that it is 'withholding' CCTV footage. It comes after three women accused the force of unjustified strip searches while in custody.

In a statement, Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said GMP would 'positively engage' with a review into the allegations.

DCC Woods added that the force was 'aware of and understand the concerns regarding the allegations that the force is withholding footage'.

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He added: "We are obviously aware of and understand the concerns regarding the allegations that the force is withholding footage so I would like to provide reassurance.

"The following explanation details why, at this time, we have been unable to recover two one hour segments of the CCTV footage from the custody cell. It is not the case that we are withholding this deliberately.

"The footage was burnt onto four discs in hour long segments. One disc corrupted but files were recovered by the Digital Investigation Unit.

"Upon review, it was identified that two hours (From 10:00 to 10:59 hours on 05/02/21, and from 13:00 to 13:59 hours on 06/02/21) were missing but, by that date, the parent footage on the servers had been overwritten (due to the standard retention time having passed).

"However, we have recovered and secured the servers and have an active line of enquiry - being if the outstanding hours can be recovered by Digital Forensics professionals."

DCC Woods said GMP's Professional Standards Branch had made contact with one of the women concerned.

Last week, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said he was in discussion with Dame Vera Baird KC and would be asking her to