Report reveals unlawful and demeaning treatment of women and girls by Greater Manchester Police

In July 2024, an independent report into the actions of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) found that the force had been responsible for a number of “unlawful” arrests and strip searches. The report exposed specific concerns around how the force treated women and girls, as well as highlighting failures in the treatment of those who have suffered from sexual or domestic violence.

The Baird Report – named after Dame Vera Baird, who led the inquiry – investigated 14 cases in which GMP had been accused of improper behaviour, including “humiliating” and “demeaning” treatment of people in custody. A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) noted that the report “raises deeply uncomfortable questions – ones which must be addressed in order to regain the trust of those who have been let down by the police complaints process.”

In this post, we’ll examine the findings of the report and how it relates to broader concerns around police misconduct. We’ll also examine the police complaints process and explain how you can seek compensation if you’ve been mistreated by the police.

The findings of the report

The Baird Report was commissioned by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, in the summer of 2023. It was prompted by a Sky News investigation focused on three women who had complained about inappropriate treatment by GMP while in custody.

Dame Vera Baird, who was named to lead the inquiry, is a barrister and former MP, as well as previously having acted as police commissioner and victims’ commissioner for England and Wales.

Baird ultimately investigated the experiences of 14 people, 11 of whom were women. Her findings were deeply concerning, identifying a range of issues in how GMP had treated people in custody. This included a number of arrests that the report deemed “unlawful” – even, in one case, “shockingly unnecessary” – as well as inappropriate use of strip-searches that were perceived to be “punitive” by the victims.

The report also noted repeated failings in the police complaints process. All the people interviewed by Baird had made complaints against GMP, and none was satisfied with the outcome. As part of her review, Baird found that GMP’s response to the complaints was “essentially evasive, defensive or aggressive in tone and rejecting any police error”.

She also noted that the complaints were handled “without the reasonable and proportionate investigation and scrutiny they deserve” and that the “letters of rejection are expressions of opinion, based on little or no evidence.”

Responses to the report

Understandably, the shocking findings of the Baird Report led to deeply felt responses on the part of campaigners and victims’ groups.

Mark Balaam, a White Ribbon ambassador and founder of a firm focused on safeguarding and wellness, remarked that the report “highlights a deeply concerning and systemic issue within the force.” Maggie Oliver, a former GMP detective who founded a charity to support survivors of abuse, said that the report “reveals a shocking disregard for rights of those coming into contact with the criminal justice system.”

GMP issued a statement in response to the Baird Report noting that it “apologised and accepted the recommendations of the report”. The force stated that “some improvements to address Dame Vera’s recommendations have already been made” but acknowledged that “much more to do around the cultural practice of strip-search” in particular.

The wider implications of the report

The shocked responses to the report, as well as its potential impact on policing in Greater Manchester and across the country, should be seen in relation to wider issues.

In the first instance, there have been well-publicised concerns around a culture of misogyny in the police in recent years. These concerns were exacerbated by the shocking acts of Wayne Couzens and David Carrick, both of whom were serving Metropolitan Police officers at the time of their crimes. These distressing cases understandably drew the most attention, but reports showed that almost 1500 officers were accused of violence against women and girls in just six months from October 2021 to April 2022.

There are also specific issues facing GMP. The force was placed in special measures in 2020 for failing to record up to 80,000. Though the force was deemed to have “significantly improved” by 2023, and was no longer in special measures, Baird raised concerns that these improvements stemmed, at least in part, from a “strategic priority” accorded to the number of arrests. The risk, according to Baird, is that “the strategy to increase arrests becomes an end in itself” and, as a result, “as soon as an officer has the first scent that an offence has been committed, they immediately move to arrest”.

Needless to say, within the wider context, the findings of the Baird Report are deeply concerning to people both in Greater Manchester and throughout the country, coming at a time when trust in the police is low. And this makes it more essential than ever that you are aware of the risks of police misconduct – and that you know how to respond if it does occur.

What makes an arrest unlawful?

A key finding of the report, as discussed above, is that many if not all of the arrests examined were unlawful. But how do you know if an arrest is in accordance with the law or not?

There are two main lawful reasons for an officer to make an arrest. In the first instance, if there is a court-issued warrant for your arrest then this arrest is inherently lawful. However, this does not mean all the police’s behaviour towards you is therefore justified – they may still use unnecessary or excessive force in executing the warrant, for instance.

Further, you can lawfully be arrested without a warrant if the following two conditions are met:

• There is reasonable suspicion you have committed an offence or are planning or attempting to do so
• There are grounds to believe an arrest is necessary

Both of these conditions must be met in order for an officer to lawfully make an arrest without a warrant. The second point is particularly important, so let’s look at it more closely.

As we explained in our post on the necessity to arrest, the fact that an officer suspects you may have committed an offence is not sufficient. They must also believe there is no alternative to arresting you. There are various reasons why this might be the case. For instance, they may believe you are giving false information, and that an arrest is necessary to determine your actual name and address. Or, they may believe it is necessary to arrest you to prevent physical harm occurring to you or someone else.

The key point is that, if there is no warrant and there is no necessity to arrest, then the arrest is likely to be unlawful. A key finding of the Baird Report is that, in the cases examined, this test of necessity was not met.

What to do if you experience police misconduct

If you believe you have been arrested unlawfully, or if you have experienced any of the other kinds of mistreatment outlined in the Baird Report, it’s important to know what the next steps are.

You have the right to make a police complaint if you believe you have been a victim of police misconduct. This is an important step to take, as it creates a formal record of your mistreatment and it can result in the police force taking steps to prevent such misconduct happening in future. They may modify their policies, discipline those responsible, and make a formal apology. If you’re looking to make a police complaint, read our post on how to make a police complaint for a step-by-step guide.

However, the Baird Report has indicated that the police complaints process does not always lead to a satisfactory outcome for victims. And it’s important to be aware that, no matter what the outcome, you will not be offered compensation. If you have suffered significant damages due to police misconduct, you may not be satisfied with this.

Thankfully, there is an alternative. If you would like to seek compensation following mistreatment by the police, you can pursue a civil action against the police. This involves taking the police force responsible for your treatment to court. With the support of an experienced solicitor, this need not be a complex or challenging process – and you may end up securing a financial boost that will help your ongoing recovery.

HNK can support your civil action against the police

The findings of the Baird Report are deeply concerning, particularly given the broader issues facing the police when it comes to misogyny and the treatment of women and girls. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to seek redress if you have been a victim of improper treatment by the police – and that includes seeking compensation.

Here at HNK Solicitors, our expert team has helped many victims of police misconduct to secure the compensation they deserve. With in-depth knowledge of the relevant regulations and an understanding of the difficulties that victims of police misconduct face, we can ensure that you are well-placed to secure the compensation you deserve with minimal disruption to your recovery.

Our team offers free consultations, so if you feel you have been a victim of police misconduct, get in touch today to discuss your case. Call us on 0151 668 0809, or email us at enquiries@hnksolicitors.com.