Full Breakdown
Gwent Police Reverses Trans Inclusion Policy After Legal Threat
9/7/2026, 1:25:09 PM
Background & Context
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC)) recently issued an updated code of practice that requires public-sector employers to provide gender-neutral facilities while still respecting the legal definition of “woman” under the Equality Act, a point clarified by a Supreme Court ruling last year. The new guidance has prompted many police forces to revise their changing-room policies to align with the code.
Policy Change and Legal Challenge
The network threatened legal action, asserting that the policy endangered the privacy of female officers. In response, Gwent Police scrapped the policy “months ago” and announced a forthcoming consultation on a revised approach, effectively U-turning the original rule.
Official Statements & Responses
Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson emphasized that service providers must be “compliant with the law,” adding that the new EHRC code “has given greater clarity” on responsibilities for single-sex spaces.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ Gwent Police confirmed the policy had been scrapped months ago | Reacting to the news, Director and National Policing lead with the Women's Rights Network Cathy Larkman said: "We are very glad that Gwent police have now withdrawn their unlawful policy.” — Rights Network Cathy Larkman
- “ Gwent Police has now U-turned on the policy | Ms Larkman continued: "How can women trust a police force like Gwent when they claim to take their safety, and violence against women and girls seriously, when they don't respect the legal rights of their own female officers and staff?” — Rights Network Cathy Larkman
