Treat female detainees with dignity

Wiltshire and Swindon's Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson has backed a national call for the law to be changed to ensure that all female detainees have access to menstrual sanitary products whilst in police custody.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners have called for the change in legislation to ensure that all detainees are treated with dignity.

The legislation which details how detainees in police custody should be treated makes no requirement upon the police service to provide female detainees with any menstrual sanitary products, or allow them access to a female member of staff. Wiltshire Police has for a long time recognised that female detainees should be provided with these products free of charge to maintain their hygiene and dignity, and inform them that they have access to these products and access to a female member of staff.

Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said "It is a basic human right to live in dignity and it is somewhat astounding that there is no legislation in existence already that supports this for female detainees on their periods.

"Wiltshire Police does offer these products to detainees, and we also have independent custody visitors which help ensure those held in police custody are treated fairly and their welfare looked after.

"It's only right that those in custody are treated with respect and dignity."