Today, at the age of 44, he wears a blonde wig and make-up when he goes to work and now identifies himself as a woman, having previously divorced his wife. "Change socially" to prove to doctors that he is determined for this change. So, for some time now he has been wearing a woman's wig and lipstick in order to convince the whole society that his "transformation" is not a simple whim but what he desires most of all in his life.
Police shared Morden's story online, prompting a backlash from some who questioned whether the officer should be given the power to investigate female suspects. However, according to instructions from the National Police Chiefs of Staff, "any officer with a gender identity certificate can search a person whose gender matches what is recorded - after the change - for the officer".
Under UK Gender Recognition Act 2004, persons who have lived a "social life" in the sex they have acquired (by choice) for at least two years can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) to the Gender Recognition Commission . Once administered, this allows the person to legally change their gender. It is not necessary for a person to undergo surgery or hormone therapy to receive GRC.
Morden, who has no children, said: "I always knew I was transgender, even before I knew there was a word for it. But I kept it a secret for decades - I did not know how to say such a thing to friends, family and colleagues. I was one of the 14 officers holding a police chain in front of an angry mob of a thousand or more people. And I am surrounded by a gang of burglars armed with baseball bats and hammers. But none of this is as scary as posing as a transgender woman in front of 30 police officers - whom I saw for the first time - in a regular training program. We are undoubtedly in a more tolerant era than 10 or 20 years ago - that prevented me from revealing my truth earlier - but it is still scary. As I put on my lipstick and my blonde wig the day before at work for the first time I could not control my stress. My colleagues were used to seeing me with a shaved head and beard for a few days. I was afraid of what my colleagues would say and how the citizens would treat me. I've had the worst scum of my 19 years at West Midlands Police. "I have been found, stabbed and punched while on duty, but nothing compares to my fear of going to work as the person I really feel and am."
Morden joined the West Midlands Police in 2001 and was one of the first officers to be trained with an X26 Taser. She revealed that she confessed that she is trans in his supervisor in 2018, but only in the last weeks, "she appeared as her real self in front of officers".
After his decision to appear in public as a transsexual, she suffered cyberbullying, but says that her colleagues were supportive and helped her withstand the storm.
He added: "Ever since I was young I have known that something was different inside me, that my identity does not match what I feel and really am. This caused me constant stress and anxiety, I tried to hide, ignore it, escape from this feeling and move on with my life. But last year I got bored, I got tired. I realized that I needed to be myself, I had to be true to myself, I had to do this for my own mental health. "
And how did they treat him? "Ever since I mustered the courage to reveal my true nature to co-workers, the support and love I have found has been incredible. Most people here at the police station are interested and supportive and just want to get to know me so that they can help me in my new life. The earth has been spinning ever since I revealed my identity - the world has not stopped for me - and I can be reconciled to myself for the first time in my life. I'm sure someone you know may also be confused about their gender identity, or even like me, confident about their identity and live differently. We simply ask to be allowed to live the way we feel, without fear of being bullied, abused, harassed, ridiculed and abused. It's still me, your friend, your brother, your sister, your colleague, no matter how I present myself, or what clothes I wear or how I identify with myself. "
Finally, he claims that joining Whatsapp police teams for LGBTQ members helped him to be honest about his gender identity with his colleagues: “I was incredibly nervous. How do you say you are trans to some of your most classic male colleagues? At first, I was terrified, but everyone was so cool, understanding and welcoming so it was a huge relief and I feel like I can finally be me. You can be who you really are and your colleagues and friends will be more supportive than whatever you think…".