Government responds to 'deeply disturbing' report into GMP's treatment of people in custody

The government has responded to a 'deeply disturbing' report into the treatment of people arrested by GMP. The Baird Inquiry, which was commissioned by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham last year, has exposed shocking failings by the force.

The report, written by the former national victims' commissioner Dame Vera Baird, features the harrowing stories of 14 people held in custody by the force. Dame Vera concluded that seven of those individuals - mostly women - were arrested 'unlawfully'.

The independent inquiry, which was sparked by a series of complaints about GMP's treatment of women in custody, highlights how some people were humiliated by GMP employees. This includes through the use of strip-searching of vulnerable women.

READ MORE: The men 'unlawfully arrested and strip-searched' by Greater Manchester Police - with one left naked in cell three times

In one case, a domestic abuse victim awaiting a hysterectomy who was left sitting in her own blood in a cell for 16 hours begging for medication and sanitary products. Another woman, was strip-searched 'completely naked' and later charged with malicious communications over her 14 phones calls to the police after she was throttled unconscious by her drunk husband.

The report makes a series of recommendations - including ending the use of strip searching for 'welfare purposes' - which have been accepted in full by GMP, the mayor and his deputy. Chief constable Stephen Watson has also apologised to the victims.

The report also made recommendations to the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs's Council and the College of Policing, such as issuing new guidance on strip searching by police across the country. The government has now confirmed that it will consider