UK: Metropolitan Police confirms supplying or wearing a chest binder is not child abuse

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that supplying or wearing a chest binder is not a criminal offence after The Telegraph published a controversial article on the subject.

On Tuesday (27 September), The Telegraph published an article questioning whether wearing or supplying a chest binder – a common practice for some trans and non-binary people – could be considered child abuse.

The article referenced a page on the Metropolitan Police’s website on chest ironing, a practice that’s widely regarded as abusive and is most often inflicted on young girls in parts of Africa.

In its article, The Telegraph quoted a university professor who questioned why chest binding wasn’t considered child abuse when breast ironing was.

The Met issued a statement on Thursday (29 September) clarifying that wearing or supplying a chest binder is not a criminal offence. The force said it supports trans and gender diverse people who “freely choose” to wear a binder.

More: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/09/30/met-police-chest-binding-binder-child-abuse/