Your gender must be recorded in your search or custody record or in the officer’s notebook.
However Section 22 of the Gender Recognition Act makes your gender ‘protected information’ meaning the police cannot disclose your gender to any other person.
Any reasons for not treating you by your preferred gender must be recorded in the search record, in the officer’s notebook, or if applicable, in your custody record.
If you wish to find out more about making complaints click here.
The Police Officer who stops and searches you has to complete a record of the search electronically. After the search you should be given a card a card with your unique reference number and details of how to obtain a copy of the search record on it. You can get a copy of the record for up to 12 months after the stop and search.
The record of a search must always include the following information:
• Your name, or (if it is withheld) a description of you;
• When a vehicle is searched, its registration number;
• The identity of the officer making the search;
• The date, time, and place that you were first detained;
• The date, time and place you were searched (if different from (iii);
• The purpose of the search;
• The grounds for making the search
• The outcome (i.e. arrest, no further action)
• A note of any injury or damage to property resulting from the search
The Police must complete a record of the search electronically. You should receive a card after the search with a unique reference number and details of how to get a copy of the search record after the search has been completed.