A UK police force has introduced a new policy whereby trans women in custody will be searched by male officers, based on their biological birth sex.

This change follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman does not include transgender women with gender recognition certificates.

The police force had previously advised officers to search detainees according to their acquired gender if they held a gender recognition certificate.

However, under the new interim policy, same-sex searches in custody will be conducted in accordance with the detainee's biological birth sex.

As a result, trans women will be searched by male officers, and trans women officers will no longer be permitted to search female detainees.

The police force is currently reviewing the implications of the Supreme Court ruling and will consider updates to its policies and practices in line with the law and national guidance.