APCC Victims Lead speaks out about lack of female sanitary provisions in courts
In an interview with BuzzFeed News, Dame Vera Baird QC, the Victims Lead for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said that she will ask the Secretary of State for Justice, David Gauke MP, to make the regular offering of menstrual products part of routine practice.
“You can think of little worse if you are a woman than trying to give evidence on your own behalf when… you might not have appropriate products available and you are in the middle of your period,” she said.
“Even being anxious about it is not good, when you are there to give your best evidence. It could make the difference between you getting convicted and not convicted.
“More than 60% of female offenders are victims of domestic violence, and many suffer from mental health problems, according to the government’s own figures. Although these statistics pertain to women detained after sentencing, rather than before, they are indicative of the women who go through court custody.
“Some of these women will be quite vulnerable, not confident, and won’t be used to fighting for their rights or demanding what they need, so they probably just put up with it,” Baird said.
“It is a dreadful situation to be in.”
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