UK police forces issue dual ID cards to gender-fluid officers

Gender-fluid police officers in certain United Kingdom jurisdictions have been issued dual male and female warrant cards. This allows officers whose gender identity is not fixed to identify as either a man or a woman depending on the day.

Norfolk, Leicestershire, and Suffolk police forces are among those that have implemented this practice. Under current policies for Norfolk and Suffolk, transitioning or gender-fluid officers can request dual identity cards, though they must relinquish both for a single card if they undergo a full transition.

The update follows a Supreme Court ruling regarding the Equality Act 2010, which determined that references to ‘man’ or ‘woman’ in the Act refer to biological sex at birth. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has noted that thorough searches involving the exposure of intimate body parts should be conducted by officers of the same sex. Norfolk Police stated it is currently reviewing its policies in light of recent legal judgments.