Gender-critical activists in Scotland rally to demand transgender women are not locked up in female prisons

Feminist group Women Won't Wheest staged the protest in Edinburgh 

Gender-critical activists in Scotland have gathered to demand that transgender women are not locked up in female prisons.

Feminist group Women Won’t Wheest held the demonstration outside the Scottish Government building in Edinburgh today.

Protesters held signs, banners and placards emblazoned with slogans such as  ‘rapists have more rights than women’ and ‘trans units for trans prisoners’.

It comes after the group wrote to Justice Secretary Angela Constance yesterday calling on her to intervene and overturn the Scottish Prison Service’s (SPS) Transgender Management Policy (TMP).

The policy states that from February 24 an ‘individualised approach’ will be taken towards trans inmates.

Gender-critical activists in Scotland have gathered to demand that transgender women are not locked up in female prisons

Gender-critical activists in Scotland have gathered to demand that transgender women are not locked up in female prisons

Feminist group Women Won't Wheest held the demonstration outside the Scottish Government building in Edinburgh today

Feminist group Women Won’t Wheest held the demonstration outside the Scottish Government building in Edinburgh today

Prisoners will be initially placed in the male estate until sufficient information is known on whether they can be accommodated in accordance with their chosen gender.

Inmates will not be placed in the female estate if it ‘gives rise to unacceptable risks’ which cannot be mitigated.

Back in December it emerged that one aim of the policy was to help transgender criminals to prepare for life as women on release.

High-risk offenders who cannot be offered a permanent place in a female jail due to the threat they pose could instead be offered visitation rights to allow them to mix with female inmates.

The report stated: ‘While it may be necessary to accommodate transgender individuals in a prison which does not align with their affirmed gender, there may be other ways of supporting their gender identity.

‘For example, through access to work parties, activities or programmes with others of their gender identity.’

The group’s letter said that the policy ‘fails vulnerable women and places them at an unnecessary risk of male violence including psychological coercive control’.

They referenced the Angiolini Commission Report – which they say ‘highlighted the vulnerable and complex needs of women prisoners’.

Isla Bryson, known as Adam Graham until 2020 was convicted of raping two women before her transition
A police handout of Isla Bryson, formerly known as    Adam Graham

Isla Bryson, known as Adam Graham until 2020, was convicted of raping two women before her transition. He was initially sent to an all-female prison but was moved to a male wing of another prison after it sparked an uproar

The report states that around 80 per cent of incarcerated women have brain injuries as a result of domestic violence.

They told Ms Constance that the best way for women to recover from male violence is in an all-female environment, and that the TMP rule does not take into consideration ‘the needs of vulnerable women’.

Women Won’t Wheest added: ‘This completely undermines the positive steps taken in Scotland to address the issues raised in the report.

‘The policy speaks of ‘unacceptable risk’, the implication being the SPS believes there is an acceptable level of risk for female prisoners.

‘There is never an acceptable risk and we cannot predict with any certainty which males are a risk. We know male violence is under-reported.

‘We know very few cases see the inside of a police station let alone a court room so how do the SPS plan to risk assess that which they don’t know?’

The protesters have said that public trust has been ‘sorely tested following the Isla Bryson scandal’.

A political storm erupted last year when transgender double rapist Isla Bryson – originally known as Adam Graham – was placed at HMP Cornton Vale, Scotland’s only all-female prison, before the prisoner was eventually moved to the male estate at HMP Edinburgh.

The protesters wrote: ‘Ms Teresa Medhurst, Scottish Prison Service CEO, stated at the Criminal Justice Committee that the SPS are a trauma informed service.

‘How can this be when the policy states that males will still be placed in the female estate despite the detrimental impact it’ll have on women living with trauma?’

They said women in prison have the right to be free from torture, inhumane and degrading treatment.

An SPS spokesperson said its new policy considers the wellbeing of all prisoners due to its individual approach.

They said: ‘Our new policy supports the health, safety, and wellbeing of all people living and working in Scotland’s prisons, by taking an individualised approach to the admission, placement, and management of transgender people.

‘We will carefully consider a range of factors, including offending history, with a particular focus on violence against women and girls, when assessing risk.

‘No transgender women, with a history of violence against women and girls, who presents a risk to women, will be placed in the female estate.

‘The policy has been developed by SPS following extensive engagement including input from expert in violence against women, various interviews with men and women in custody, those that are transgender and those who are not.’

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.

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