Review into how GMP treated women and girls in custody delayed AGAIN

An inquiry into how Greater Manchester Police treat women and girls in custody has been delayed AGAIN.

The review, led by Dame Vera Baird KC, was commissioned last summer following a Sky News report into the experiences of three women being held in custody by GMP. Initially, it was scheduled for release in autumn 2023, but more complainants came forward to the review - so it was pushed back.

Last month, deputy Mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire, Kate Green, said the ‘aim’ was to release it ‘by the end of this Mayoral term’. Ms Green made her announcement at a meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) when ‘due diligence’ checks had begun.

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Now, in a statement released on Friday (February 9), it’s been revealed those checks will take longer than anticipated to complete, so the report will have to be released after the Mayoral election on May 2.

A statement on behalf of Ms Green said: “Following the completion of Dame Vera Baird’s investigations and submission of her findings into the experience of people who are arrested and taken into custody by Greater Manchester Police, the process of producing her report is now underway.

“This process is detailed, and includes legal and due diligence checks, and sharing the content with the complainants whose experiences are described in the report. We had hoped to be able to publish earlier, and understand there is public interest in reading Dame Vera’s report, but it’s now clear this won’t all be complete by the end of March.

“This takes us into the pre-election period, during which publication would contravene pre-election restrictions. For these reasons, we now anticipate Dame