Dear Hertfordshire Constabulary,

On 13th January 2024, it was widely reported that the NPCC has withdrawn its policy and guidance agreed previously at an NPCC meeting on 9/10 December 2021 dealing with the ability of officers to self-identify as the opposite sex and conduct searches that are 'same sex' only under the provisions of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01...

The NPCC stated at this time, that forces would revert to their own local policies.
I specifically seek to know;

1.⁠ ⁠Whether this force has also withdrawn the NPCC policy above and on what date it did so.

2.⁠ ⁠In respect to searches exceeding the most basic search of outer clothing, commonly referred to as more thorough searches, strip searches or intimate searches, please advise whether this force permits any searching to be conducted by an officer of the opposite sex.

For clarity, “sex” here means biological / physical sex, regardless of how the officer identifies, whether by way of a Gender Recognition Certificate or via verbal self-identification.

3.⁠ ⁠If this force is still permitting such opposite sex searching to continue, which officer has made that decision. Please also identify the rank of the officer.

Yours faithfully,

Claire Loneragan

Dear FOI Team,

By law you are required to respond to my request promptly, and should have responded by 28 Feb 2024. Please would you address this FOI at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Claire Loneragan