An independent inquiry will look into the Greater Manchester Police’s treatment of women and girls in custody after a woman claimed she was drugged and raped at a station.
The review, commissioned by mayor Andy Burnham, will look at the use of strip searches, the removal and replacement of clothing and intimate searches.
It will also focus on the care of female detainees and how complaints are dealt with, as well as looking at any inequality between the treatment of men and women.
It comes after Zayna Iman claimed she had been drugged and sexually assaulted while being held in custody.
Known as the Baird Inquiry, it will examine the experiences of three women, whose accounts have recently been featured in the media and will assess if current GMP police and procedures are fit for purpose.
Led by Dame Vera Baird KC, a barrister and former Labour MP who served as Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales from 2019 to 2022, the inquiry is expected to publish its findings in autumn 2023.
Kate Green, deputy mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire, said: “The mayor and I were both concerned when we saw recent reports in the media.
“When issues like these present themselves, we will face them head-on and leave no stone unturned to establish what happened and what must be learnt.
“Dame Vera Baird KC, with her wealth of experience, is the perfect person to carry out this Inquiry and people can be assured that her work will be thorough and of the highest quality.
“The safety of women and girls is a huge priority for the mayor and me. We have made no secret of that before and it remains as important as ever.”
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