A police force threatened with legal action after telling women to share toilets and changing rooms with trans officers has been forced to scrap its policy.
Gwent Police was accused of breaching new equality guidance after declaring 'trans members of staff are entitled to use the facilities of the gender in which they present.'
The Mail revealed in May that the force had been threatened with legal action by a women's rights organisation after new guidance from the equalities watchdog was laid in parliament saying single-sex spaces such as changing rooms and toilets must be used on the basis of biological sex.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) updated code of practice approved by ministers, makes it clear that transgender people should be offered a gender-neutral space instead of female toilets.
It follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling last year that the definition of a woman under the Equality Act should be based on biological sex.
The Women's Rights Network requested gender policies under Freedom of Information which revealed many forces were changing their policies, but Gwent Police insisted: 'Trans members of staff are entitled to use the facilities of the gender in which they present.
'This will be the case from the first day that they present in that gender.
'It is not acceptable to insist that a member of staff transitioning at work should use separate facilities, for example the nominated accessible toilet, unless they so wish.'
Two female police officers pictured on patrol in the United Kingdom
Now the force has backed down, scrapping its Transitioning in the Workplace policy which said toilets, changing rooms and showers for both officers and members of the public are not segregated on the basis of biological sex.
Cathy Larkman, Director and National Policing lead with the Women's Rights Network, and a retired Police Superintendent said: 'We are very glad that Gwent police have now withdrawn their unlawful policy.
'However, it is deeply concerning that it took the threat of legal action by a grassroots women's rights group to ensure that they respected the legal right of their brave female officers to safe and private single-sex showers, changing rooms and toilets, free from the presence of men.
'It is totally unacceptable that they are dragging their feet on what their new policy will be, insisting that they will only decide on this after consulting with staff networks.
'There doesn't need to be a consultation - they just need to comply with the law. This is not hard to understand. It beggars belief that a police force has to be prompted not to break the law.
'How can women trust a police force like Gwent when they claim to take their safety, and violence against women and girls seriously, when they don't respect the legal rights of their own female officers and staff?
'This is an abject failure of police leadership and a betrayal of precious public trust.'
A black unisex toilet sign featuring a man and woman
A Gwent Police spokesperson said the policy had been revoked a number of months ago: 'We are committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe, respected and able to be themselves.
'We understand the impact that this has on our workforce and communities and as such we are being proactive in ensuring our estates and working environments are inclusive and safe for all to use.
'Our Trans Inclusion Policy has been reviewed in light of recent Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance on public spaces, and we await further guidance on workplaces.
'A revised policy is currently out for consultation with our staff networks and will be published following this process.'