Police to give women in custody free sanitary products under new law after detainees left to 'bleed out'

Police are to give female detainees free sanitary products after a watchdog found women were being left to “bleed out” in cells.

The Home Office has changed the law to “ensure all menstruating women, and others with personal health and hygiene needs, are treated with dignity whilst in custody”.

The Independent Custody Visitors Association (ICVA) wrote to the previous home secretary, Amber Rudd, demanding the change in January 2018 after an inspection revealed “shocking conditions”.

“Detainees had been left to bleed out, having been denied proper menstrual care or products,” the watchdog said.

It said that its visitors had observed a woman who had been stripped, dressed in a paper suit and left in a police cell.

“Her underwear had been removed although she had her period,” the ICVA said. “A visitor asked that she be given underwear in order that she could have some sanitary protection. This was refused.”

The watchdog warned that the incident was not isolated and said police forces across England and Wales were not applying guidance requiring female suspects to be offered sanitary products.

It found that little privacy was offered for changing and hygienic washing facilities were not always available, while officers strip-searching suspects were given no statutory guidance on how to treat women on their period.

Changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) codes of practice will mean police have to ask female detainees whether they are likely to require sanitary products “at the earliest opportunity” and offer them free of charge.

Detainees will be able to speak privately to a female custody officer about their health, hygiene and welfare needs, which will be considered over access to toilet and washing facilities, how clothes are removed and retained.

The Home Office said the changes had “overwhelming support” from police and the public in a consultation.

The changes will be brought into effect when the revised codes of practice have been laid in parliament.

Nick Hurd, the police minister, said: “I have been clear that everyone who enters custody should be treated with dignity and have their personal needs met.

“Great progress has been made by the police, ICVA and the College of Policing on this issue, and today we are announcing how we will ensure these standards are met across the board.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said police welcomed the changes, which would help ensure consistency across Forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Kate Kempen, chief executive of the ICVA, said: “These changes ensure that the needs of female detainees are addressed, that detainees have basic privacy to use a toilet and access to menstrual products and that dignity is promoted within the police custody environment.

“No detainee should be left to bleed for want of a difficult conversation or a cheap tampon. These changes should ensure that never happens.”

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), which had also written to the government with concerns, said the change was “long overdue”.

Martyn Underhill, the lead for custody, said: “We will now work with ICVA to ensure these changes are properly implemented and maintained."