Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says "significant progress" has been made following an inquiry into the experiences of women and girls in custody.

Dame Vera Baird KC, the former victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, released the report in July after a number of complaints had been made about the force's use of strip searches.

Among the cases in the report was a girl aged under 16, referred to as "Scarlett", who was taken to Bury Police Station and strip-searched.

She was detained for more than 24 hours and was not given medication for a condition she suffers from and was in a disturbed state in the cell.

She was strip-searched an hour after she arrived and was searched in a room close to the custody desk with a glass door meaning anyone could see her, the report said.

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Officers told Scarlett that removing her clothing was necessary because she had hidden an e-cigarette from police on another occasion.

She was not provided with an appropriate adult, and was wrongly told that if she objected, she would face a criminal charge.

Two women police officers told her to take her clothes off.

She kept her bra and pants on but had to lift the bra so that any e-cigarette would fall out and officers put their fingers between her toes. Nothing was found.

She was kept in custody to continue questioning and the first call for Scarlett’s dad to attend was not made until 12 hours after her arrest.

When her dad arrived, they asked the custody sergeant when the solicitor was coming and learned that Scarlett had refused a solicitor several hours before.

Her dad asked for a solicitor and said they would return as soon as the legal representative was on their way.

The report said police should have contacted the appropriate adult earlier to tell them that she had refused a solicitor.

This is because refusing a solicitor is not a decision a child can take.

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The report said: “Scarlett is absolutely clear about the details of the strip search in August 2019 and the traumatic effect it had on her.

“I have no doubt that the strip search happened and was done unlawfully, without an appropriate adult.

“No reason was given for it. Scarlett should not have been visible, potentially to men, when she was in her underwear and it creates an impression of all-powerful police people, hidden from public view.”

Scarlett was taken back to Bury Police Station after being arrested again in December 2022 and concerns were raised about her treatment once more.

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GMP said they have ended the use of strip searches for welfare purposes, refreshed officer training on the use of voluntary attendance interviews, ensured female welfare officers are allocated to female suspects in custody, provided all female suspects in custody with dignity packs including sanitary products and began implementing trauma-informed training to all frontline officers.

GMP Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said: “Our significant progress with the Baird review recommendations demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the people of Greater Manchester – particularly women and girls – can have confidence in their police force.

“Dame Vera’s report was a disturbing read which highlighted some troubling truths.

“The Chief Constable apologised to those in the report, and we take full responsibility for implementing the recommendations with a view to making lasting improvements.

“It is clear we are well on the way to doing this.

“We are working closely with local and national partners in policing and beyond to ensure we are being held fully accountable for our improvements, while also influencing national change in this space.”