Detective Constable Rachel Fletcher, a 23-year veteran of Northumbria Police, has vowed to fight her dismissal for allegedly making derogatory remarks about transgender women. Fletcher was sacked for gross misconduct, including allegations of calling transgender women "c**ks in frocks" and stating "all men are rapists."
Fletcher, 49, denies using the phrase "cks in frocks" but acknowledges a conversation about police search guidance introduced in 2021. She stated that the policy allowed biological men identifying as women to conduct strip searches on female prisoners, a situation she found concerning for new female officers. "Imagine someone identifying as a woman undressed their bottom half, and there was a ck," she reportedly said, expressing concern about how a young female officer would feel in such a situation.
She claims the language used was a misinterpretation within a professional context. Fletcher asserts that officers in her line of work, particularly those in child protection and family liaison roles, become desensitized to and regularly use various terms for body parts due to the nature of sex offense cases. She described such language as "completely normal" in the office environment.
Regarding the "all men are rapists" allegation, Fletcher clarified that she said, "all rapists are men," and suggested it was a joke made in response to discussions about preventing nighttime rapes. She stated the comment was intended humorously and not as a literal policy proposal.
Fletcher believes her gender-critical views, which question whether transgender rights have been prioritized over women's rights, have been misrepresented by the police force. She is pursuing an unfair dismissal and discrimination case based on these beliefs. Since her dismissal on July 31, Fletcher has reported receiving significant support from the public, former colleagues, and politicians.
She has also taken personal security measures, including installing CCTV cameras at her home, due to concerns about potential activist attacks and threats stemming from the public nature of her case. Fletcher's employment tribunal is scheduled for November of the following year. She is currently seeking alternative employment while awaiting the tribunal hearing.