Gendering police custody: Examining women’s experiences of police custody in West Yorkshire Police
This Police STAR-funded project explores police custody as a gendered space.
This Police STAR-funded project explores police custody as a gendered space. Though the Baird Report has recently highlighted urgent concerns about gendered police custody, little is known about the applicability of those findings beyond GMP. Through a more systematic qualitative and quantitative analysis, this research investigates women’s lived experiences of police custody in West Yorkshire, identifying challenges and best practice solutions.
Grant details:
Project start and end dates:
1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
Research team members:
Academic lead: Professor Layla Skinns, University of Sheffield
Police lead: Chief Inspector, Philip Sanderson, West Yorkshire Police
Academic Co-Is: Dr Roxanna Dehaghani, Cardiff University; Professor Jackie Hodgson FBA, University of Warwick; Professor Vanessa Munro, University of Warwick.
Researchers: Lexine Smyth, Research Associate, University of Sheffield; Dr Angela Sorsby, Statistician, University of Sheffield; Katie Weir, Research Assistant, University of Sheffield.
Police Support: Warren Walker, West Yorkshire Police; John Tendall, West Yorkshire Police.
Background and aims of the project:
This Police STAR-funded project explores police custody as a gendered space. Though the Baird Report has recently highlighted urgent concerns about gendered police custody, little is known about the applicability of those findings beyond Greater Manchester Police. A previous scoping study similarly highlighted areas for concern in the treatment of women suspects. Through a more systematic qualitative and quantitative analysis, this research investigates women’s lived experiences of police custody in West Yorkshire, identifying challenges and best practice solutions.
The following research questions are addressed in the project:
1. How do detainee populations vary by gender and how does this impact, if at all, on case outcomes? Are there other intersections e.g. with ethnicity, offence type and arrest/volunteer status?
2. How do women detainees describe their lived experiences of police custody? How is gender relevant?
3. How do staff describe women detainees’ experiences of, and needs in, police custody? How is gender relevant?
4. To what extent do existing laws, policies and guidance address the needs of a diverse range of women detainees, many of whom are domestic abuse and sexual trauma survivors? What changes – if any – are required for a more gender-responsive approach to women in police custody?
Methods:
The project involves the collection of a range of quantitative and qualitative data:
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis of police custody records;
- Observation in two police custody suites in West Yorkshire Police;
- Interviews with West Yorkshire Police custody staff;
- Interviews and focus groups with women who have experienced police custody in West Yorkshire. In the study, woman or women refers to those 16 years and above, who are designated female from birth or come subsequently to identify as women, meaning that, if encountered, trans and gender fluid women will be included in the research.
- Observation of relevant West Yorkshire scrutiny panels, such as on strip searching, women, use of force etc.;
- Observation of relevant interventions provided to women as part of an Out-of-Court Resolutions.
Key findings:
These will be published by the end of June 2026
Key publications:
A project report will be published by the end of June 2026. This will be launched at an end-of-project event.
Key contacts:
If you would like to know more about the project, please contact the academic lead, Professor Layla Skinns (L.Skinns@sheffield.ac.uk)