Police force that told women to share toilets and changing rooms with trans officers scraps its policy after court threat
Gwent Police has scrapped a policy that told women officers and staff to share toilets, changing rooms and showers with transgender colleagues based on their presented gender rather than biological sex, following the threat of legal action from a women's rights group. The force had been criticised for breaching new equality guidance after the Equality and Human Rights Commission's updated code of practice, approved by ministers, stated that single-sex spaces should be based on biological sex and that trans people should instead be offered gender-neutral facilities, in line with last year's Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act.
The Mail first revealed in May that the Women's Rights Network had threatened Gwent Police with legal action over its "Transitioning in the Workplace" policy, which stated that trans staff could use facilities matching their presented gender from their first day of transitioning. Gwent Police says the policy was actually withdrawn several months ago and that a revised version is out for consultation with staff networks, though it has yet to be published. Cathy Larkman of the Women's Rights Network welcomed the withdrawal but criticised the force for delaying a replacement policy and for needing the threat of legal action to comply with the law, calling it "an abject failure of police leadership".
In short
- Gwent Police scraps trans staff bathroom-sharing policy after legal threat
- Move follows new EHRC guidance requiring single-sex spaces by biological sex
- Women's rights group criticises force for delay and needing legal pressure
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Women’s rights advocates can argue that single-sex toilets and changing facilities protect privacy, dignity and women’s ability to access spaces reserved for them, and that public bodies should follow the legal guidance reflecting the Supreme Court ruling. They may also see clear, consistently applied rules as important for staff confidence and trust in police leadership.
The case against
Trans-inclusive advocates can argue that allowing officers to use facilities matching their gender identity supports dignity, safety and equal participation at work. They may favour policies that accommodate trans staff in practice while addressing privacy concerns through options such as individual or gender-neutral facilities, rather than rules based solely on biological sex.
Explained simply
Gwent Police is the police force covering south-east Wales. Its workplace policy set out how transgender employees could use facilities such as toilets, changing rooms and showers while transitioning. The dispute concerns whether these facilities should be allocated by a person’s gender identity or by biological sex.
The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination, including on grounds of sex and gender reassignment. The Supreme Court has ruled that “sex” and “woman” in the Act refer to biological sex, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued guidance on single-sex spaces. The issue matters because employers must consider both legal duties and the privacy and dignity of staff using workplace facilities.
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