An Exploration of Police Interactions with Trans Feminine People within the UK

This research project aims to explore interactions between trans feminine people and police in the UK, within the
context of trans feminine people as victims of transphobic hate crime. Utilising a qualitative approach, this
research responds to calls from academics to further explore this area (Perry and Dyck, 2014; Chakraborti and
Hardy, 2015). Previous research suggests interactions between trans feminine people and police are often
reinforce heteronormativity, thus dissuading engagement with police (Miles-Johnson, 2016). While research
within the US and Australia has observed a fraught relationship between transfeminine people and the police
(Dwyer, 2012; Miles-Johnson, 2015), research within the UK is limited. However, UK based research on LGBT
samples has noted mistrust and uncertainty towards police among transgender participants (Chakraborti and
Hardy, 2015; Antjoule, 2016). Additionally, transgender individuals have expressed concerns regarding gaps in
police knowledge, claiming frontline police were unaware of their specific needs (Chakraborti and Hardy, 2015).
Notably, an underrepresentation of transphobic hate crime was observed (Chakraborti and Hardy, 2015). This
raises questions regarding the accessibility of the criminal justice system for victims of transphobic hate crime,
supporting the need for further exploration of police interactions with victims. The research proposed will fill this
gap, and in doing so, will provide a greater understanding of the barrier's victims face in reporting their
victimisation.
Within the existing, limited research, the experiences of transgender individuals remain subsumed within those
of the wider LGBT community (Chakraborti and Hardy, 2015; Ellis et al, 2016). Although recent contributions
within queer criminology have sought to address this, (Perry and Dyck, 2014; Buist and Lenning, 2015) transgender
voices remain notably absent, which requires redressing. Therefore, I aim to apply a UK based narrative through
the lens of queer criminology, contextualising and further developing knowledge and understanding of trans-specific interactions with police within the UK. Despite limited research, academics have highlighted increasing
concern for the safety of trans feminine people, noting a disparity in the victimisation of trans feminine people
when compared with their trans masculine counterparts (Turner et al, 2009; Ellis et al, 2016), and a reluctance to
engage with the police. Researchers have expressed concerns regarding the potential for visible signs of gender
and sexual diversity to negatively influence interactions with police (Dwyer, 2012; Miles- Johnson 2016).
Therefore, an important component of this research is developing a greater understanding of the ways in which
gender non-conformity may influence interactions with police, thus making a significant contribution to the
development of this area of criminology. The research will also examine police training, responding to reports that
attitudes towards training are dismissive and reinforce heteronormative expectations of gender presentation
(Miles-Johnson, 2016). Through critically exploring current police practice, I aim to inform police policy and
practice and ultimately improve the experiences of transfeminine victims of hate crime.