Sanitary products to be offered in police cells

Police officers will be required to ask female detainees if they are on their period and, if so, supply them with sanitary products to ensure they are treated with greater dignity.

The Home Office yesterday launched a consultation on updating the code of conduct amid concerns that menstruating detainees are being routinely ignored in police cells.

Earlier this year the Independent Custody Visiting Association suggested conditions in detention for females on their periods may breach human rights laws and called for a Government review.