Policy on transitioning gender at work & "Trans Guidance for the Policing Sector"
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.029345
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. Please provide a copy of your force's policy on transitioning gender at work.
The following questions refer to the 2018 document "Trans Guidance for the Policing Sector" produced by Stonewall and the NPCC, written by Alex Gwynne and Clinton Blackburn
2. Page 6 states: "Personal records for individuals who transition shouldn't refer to a previous name and records made prior to their name change should be updated. One option is to mark the individual down as having left the force and create a fresh record with their new details."
Please state whether your force permits this in respect of: transgender staff with a GRC; transgender staff without a GRC; transgender staff who identify as nonbinary; transgender staff who identify as gender fluid. Is the procedure the same for operational and non-operational staff?
3. Page 7 states that shoulder numbers may be changed post transition.
Please state whether your force permits this in respect of: transgender staff with a GRC; transgender staff without a GRC; transgender staff who identify as nonbinary; transgender staff who identify as gender fluid.
4. Page 8 states that warrant and staff identity cards may be changed.
Please state whether your force permits this in respect of: transgender staff with a GRC; transgender staff without a GRC; transgender staff who identify as nonbinary.
5. Page 8 also states that individuals who identify as gender-fluid may require two sets of cards to reflect their gender on different days. Does your force permit this?
6. Page 10 states that the record of biometric data may be changed for a transgender member of staff.
Please state whether your force permits this in respect of: transgender staff with a GRC; transgender staff without a GRC; transgender staff who identify as nonbinary; transgender staff who identify as gender fluid. What changes does your force permit?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - Please provide a copy of your force's policy on transitioning gender at work.
The MPS doesn’t currently have a standalone policy, or policies, for transgender officers or staff within the Met. However the MPS is currently in the process of reviewing all policies which do include transgender individuals.
The following questions refer to the 2018 document "Trans Guidance for the Policing Sector" produced by Stonewall and the NPCC, written by Alex Gwynne and Clinton Blackburn
Q2 - Page 6 states: "Personal records for individuals who transition shouldn't refer to a previous name and records made prior to their name change should be updated. One option is to mark the individual down as having left the force and create a fresh record with their new details."
Please state whether your force permits this in respect of: transgender staff with a GRC; transgender staff without a GRC; transgender staff who identify as nonbinary; transgender staff who identify as gender fluid. Is the procedure the same for operational and non-operational staff?
If an officer or staff member changes their name as they are transgender, the officer/staff member’s sex and name is changed on the Police Standard Operating Platform from their first day of service. Their full history is printed off prior to this, and this is stored in a secure room under the officer’s previous identity.
Q3 - Page 7 states that shoulder numbers may be changed post transition.
Please state whether your force permits this in respect of: transgender staff with a GRC; transgender staff without a GRC; transgender staff who identify as nonbinary; transgender staff who identify as gender fluid.
Shoulder numbers typically stay with an officer throughout their service on a particular department. However, each department is free to change an officer shoulder number should they wish to do so and this could include at the request of an officer.
Q4 - Page 8 states that warrant and staff identity cards may be changed.
Please state whether your force permits this in respect of: transgender staff with a GRC; transgender staff without a GRC; transgender staff who identify as nonbinary.
Gender or sex is not displayed on warrant cards.
The passes will only reflect the details in PSOP and so any name change is reliant on HR policy and the appropriate amendment to their PSOP HR record.
For security reasons new joiners are required to provide a formal identity document like a passport or driving licence in the name matching their PSOP record and vetting before a pass can be printed.
Officers and staff can request a new pass if they change their name, rank or if they need to change their picture as their appearance has changed.
Name changes must be reflected on PSOP before a new card will be printed and formal identification documents will be required.
Q5 - Page 8 also states that individuals who identify as gender-fluid may require two sets of cards to reflect their gender on different days. Does your force permit this?
The MPS trailed the use of dual warrant cards in 2016/17 for a period of 6 months. There are no current plans to roll out dual warrant cards and there are no officers with dual warrant cards in the MPS.
Q6 - Page 10 states that the record of biometric data may be changed for a transgender member of staff.
Please state whether your force permits this in respect of: transgender staff with a GRC; transgender staff without a GRC; transgender staff who identify as nonbinary; transgender staff who identify as gender fluid. What changes does your force permit?
DNA and Fingerprints.
The databases which contain biometrics for Officers / Staff do not record / retain the gender information.