Investigative body to examine allegation of illegal strip search carried out by Greater Manchester Police upon a mother.
Rewritten Article:
A mother's plight of being illegally strip-searched by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is under investigation by the police oversight committee, the IOPC.
This news follows a long, harrowing journey for Dannika Stewart, who made headlines after sharing her harrowing experience in our website investigation. She was arrested and allegedly forced to strip down at Pendleton Police Station back in October 2022.
Stewart asserts she was facing punishment for complainhing about police negligence over a crime she had reported. Upon her arrival at the police station, she was informed that the man she had accused had made allegations against her of blackmail.
In an interview, Stewart shared her ordeal, stating, "I took off my tracksuit bottoms, took off my leggings, and then took off my underwear, and I am just sitting there naked."
She was left in that state as officers walked in and out of the cell, she claimed.
She added, "It's all about power. Because when I left the police station that day, the sergeant on the desk said, 'you need to drop all your complaints against the police'."
Our investigation into the treatment of several women prompted Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to call an inquiry into the custody practices of GMP, carried out by Dame Vera Baird.
Dame Vera's report, which looked into claims by several women, found officers were "exercising their power unwisely, unnecessarily, and sometimes unlawfully."
Post publication, Stewart mentioned, "Based on almost nothing, GMP turned me from a victim into a suspect."
Dame Vera commented that Stewart remained on bail with the threat of being charged with blackmail for months without any substantial evidence supporting the allegations against her. She also hinted that Stewart might have been bullied.
However, following the inquiry, Chief Constable Stephen Watson admitted he was unsure if Stewart was strip-searched, stating "there is a disputed set of facts."
Ms. Stewart responded, "If you are still denying something after an independent investigation, you are in denial, aren't you, as a force?"
Now, the IOPC has decided to investigate Stewart's complaints concerning her interactions with officers while in custody, including how she was searched.
GMP responded, "We have apologized unreservedly to Ms. Stewart for the unacceptable service she received, and for the distress caused by her experiences with the police."
" Our Professional Standards Directorate thoroughly investigated all allegations made and will now fully assist the IOPC with their enquiries. In implementing all the recommendations of Dame Vera Baird's report in the past year, we have significantly improved provisions for those in our custody – particularly women and girls – by ending the use of strip search for welfare purposes and by ensuring all female detainees are assigned a dedicated welfare officer."
Stewart isn't content with the apology she received in a letter from the police standards department last year. She stated, "How is this an adequate or appropriate apology after three to four years of fighting and the endless failures. Really, how many times do we have to ask them to treat us like humans and take accountability for the actions of officers?"
As of now, no officers have been disciplined for the treatment of Ms. Stewart, nearly a year after the Baird Review.
- The incident of Dannika Stewart, a woman who was illegally strip-searched by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), has brought attention to the issue of women's health and general-news, as her ordeal involves crime-and-justice and health-and-wellness concerns.
- The investigation into Stewart's allegations by the IOPC also sheds light on the broader issue of science, as it involves the study and analysis of the actions of GMP and the IOPC's oversight.
- The ongoing saga of Dannika Stewart's treatment by GMP, including the lack of discipline for officers involved, is a matter of war because it represents a continued battle for accountability, fairness, and respect for all individuals, particularly women, in the justice system.
