The Metropolitan Police could spend up to £5 million on new toilets and changing rooms to accommodate its 12 transgender employees. Britain's largest police force assessed the cost after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on the definition of 'woman' under the Equality Act last year.
An insider told The Sun that the conservative estimate for fitting new facilities at stations and main police buildings is £5 million, with an additional £300,000 annual maintenance cost. The move comes as full government guidance on transgender facilities is yet to be published.
Earlier this month, an employment tribunal found that nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital suffered harassment after being forced to share a changing room with a transgender colleague who was biologically male. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) warned employers to review their policies on single-sex spaces following the ruling.
An EHRC spokesperson said: 'Employers – especially those that offer changing facilities for their staff – should also be considering the issues raised in this ruling for their own policies and practices.' The EHRC has shared an updated services code of practice with the minister for women and equalities, Bridget Phillipson, for approval.
Ms Phillipson acknowledged that people want 'clarity' on the subject but said there is a balance to be sought between ensuring safe spaces for women and trans people's access to services.
