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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/20/partner-transgender-woman-found-dead-prison-law-change-vicky-thompson
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| Partner of transgender woman found dead in prison calls for law change | Partner of transgender woman found dead in prison calls for law change |
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| The partner of a transgender woman found dead in an all male prison after telling friends she would kill herself if she was sent there has said he contacted prison authorities to warn them about her vulnerability. | The partner of a transgender woman found dead in an all male prison after telling friends she would kill herself if she was sent there has said he contacted prison authorities to warn them about her vulnerability. |
| The government has come under renewed pressure to act on the rights of transgender prisoners following the death of Vicky Thompson, 21, at Armley, a category B men’s prison in Leeds. | The government has come under renewed pressure to act on the rights of transgender prisoners following the death of Vicky Thompson, 21, at Armley, a category B men’s prison in Leeds. |
| Robert Steele, her partner of more than four years, told the Guardian that her death should be a wake-up call. “I would like to see that it doesn’t happen again and that people who are on suicide watches shouldn’t be able to kill themselves,” he said. | Robert Steele, her partner of more than four years, told the Guardian that her death should be a wake-up call. “I would like to see that it doesn’t happen again and that people who are on suicide watches shouldn’t be able to kill themselves,” he said. |
| Steele, who said he was informed of Thompson’s death on the night it happened last Friday, said he had telephoned the prison beforehand to pass on his concerns. “She was put on a wing with people that had sexually abused people, when she had been groomed as a child,” he said. | Steele, who said he was informed of Thompson’s death on the night it happened last Friday, said he had telephoned the prison beforehand to pass on his concerns. “She was put on a wing with people that had sexually abused people, when she had been groomed as a child,” he said. |
| Recalling Thompson, who had identified as female since her mid-teens, he said she had been a happy and confident person who had good friends. | |
| In parliament, the government committed to providing figures on the numbers of transgender prisoners for the first time, as the prisons minister faced calls for action. While no figures are currently available, one estimate from activists puts the number of transgender prisoners at 80. | In parliament, the government committed to providing figures on the numbers of transgender prisoners for the first time, as the prisons minister faced calls for action. While no figures are currently available, one estimate from activists puts the number of transgender prisoners at 80. |
| Thompson’s death was a tragedy that “could, and should have been avoided”, said the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, who wrote to Michael Gove, the justice secretary, on Friday to seek an urgent review of the allocation of all trans people currently in prison. | Thompson’s death was a tragedy that “could, and should have been avoided”, said the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, who wrote to Michael Gove, the justice secretary, on Friday to seek an urgent review of the allocation of all trans people currently in prison. |
| “It should not take a death to realise that the current system is broken and in urgent need of review,” Farron added. | “It should not take a death to realise that the current system is broken and in urgent need of review,” Farron added. |
| A review of the custody policy in relation to transgender prisoners was started earlier this year and guidance would be implemented in due course, prisons minister Andrew Selous told MPs. | A review of the custody policy in relation to transgender prisoners was started earlier this year and guidance would be implemented in due course, prisons minister Andrew Selous told MPs. |
| Speaking in parliament after an urgent question about the issue was raised by Labour, he also committed to publishing figures on the number of transgender prisoners and details of their experiences. | Speaking in parliament after an urgent question about the issue was raised by Labour, he also committed to publishing figures on the number of transgender prisoners and details of their experiences. |
| “We believe that Vicky Thompson was being looked after in accordance with the relevant procedures, but that is now a matter for the prisons and probations ombudsman and coroner,” said Selous. | “We believe that Vicky Thompson was being looked after in accordance with the relevant procedures, but that is now a matter for the prisons and probations ombudsman and coroner,” said Selous. |
| “The management and care of trans people in prison is a complex issue and the review is using the expertise developed by Noms [National Offender Management Service] practitioners as well as engaging with relevant stakeholders, including those from the trans community.” He insisted that “decency is at the heart” of the prison system. | “The management and care of trans people in prison is a complex issue and the review is using the expertise developed by Noms [National Offender Management Service] practitioners as well as engaging with relevant stakeholders, including those from the trans community.” He insisted that “decency is at the heart” of the prison system. |
| Cat Smith, the shadow minister for women and equalities, called on the government to take action at a time when the number of deaths among prisoners in custody has risen to its highest in a decade. | Cat Smith, the shadow minister for women and equalities, called on the government to take action at a time when the number of deaths among prisoners in custody has risen to its highest in a decade. |
| She said the placement of transgender prisoners on the prison estate would increase in importance while prisoner numbers, overcrowding in cells and the number of individuals coming forward for gender reassignment surgery were all rising. | She said the placement of transgender prisoners on the prison estate would increase in importance while prisoner numbers, overcrowding in cells and the number of individuals coming forward for gender reassignment surgery were all rising. |
| Thompson appeared in court in March charged with stealing a mobile phone from a teenager and attempting to steal a phone belonging to the girl’s mother. | Thompson appeared in court in March charged with stealing a mobile phone from a teenager and attempting to steal a phone belonging to the girl’s mother. |
| She was handed a 12-month jail term in August, suspended for 24 months, and was remanded in custody at Bradford crown court after breaching the terms of the sentence. She asked the judge to send her to New Hall women’s prison near Wakefield, but her request was denied. | She was handed a 12-month jail term in August, suspended for 24 months, and was remanded in custody at Bradford crown court after breaching the terms of the sentence. She asked the judge to send her to New Hall women’s prison near Wakefield, but her request was denied. |
| Her solicitor, Mohammed Hussain, described Thompson, who had not undergone gender reassignment surgery, as a vulnerable transgender woman and told the judge she was “essentially a woman”. An investigation has been launched into her death. | Her solicitor, Mohammed Hussain, described Thompson, who had not undergone gender reassignment surgery, as a vulnerable transgender woman and told the judge she was “essentially a woman”. An investigation has been launched into her death. |
| According to Ministry of Justice guidelines, all prisoners should be placed according to their gender “as recognised by UK law”, which is usually as stated on their birth certificate. If they have obtained a gender recognition certificate, a new birth certificate will have been issued. | According to Ministry of Justice guidelines, all prisoners should be placed according to their gender “as recognised by UK law”, which is usually as stated on their birth certificate. If they have obtained a gender recognition certificate, a new birth certificate will have been issued. |
| However, the rules also say some transgender people will be “sufficiently advanced in the gender reassignment process” that they could be placed “in the estate of their acquired gender, even if the law does not yet recognise they are of their acquired gender”. | However, the rules also say some transgender people will be “sufficiently advanced in the gender reassignment process” that they could be placed “in the estate of their acquired gender, even if the law does not yet recognise they are of their acquired gender”. |
| In addition, a case conference must be convened and a multi-disciplinary risk assessment should be carried out to determine how best to manage a transgender prisoner’s location. | In addition, a case conference must be convened and a multi-disciplinary risk assessment should be carried out to determine how best to manage a transgender prisoner’s location. |
| Stonewall, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights campaign group, warned on Friday that there was an urgent need for a change in the law. Its chief executive, Ruth Hunt, said: “We are shocked and saddened by Vicky Thompson’s death and our thoughts are with her family and her partner during this difficult time. | Stonewall, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights campaign group, warned on Friday that there was an urgent need for a change in the law. Its chief executive, Ruth Hunt, said: “We are shocked and saddened by Vicky Thompson’s death and our thoughts are with her family and her partner during this difficult time. |
| “Vicky is one of many trans people who have lost their lives due to prejudice, discrimination and legal and social inequality. We now urgently need a change in the law to ensure trans people can live freely as themselves without fear of violence or intimidation.” | “Vicky is one of many trans people who have lost their lives due to prejudice, discrimination and legal and social inequality. We now urgently need a change in the law to ensure trans people can live freely as themselves without fear of violence or intimidation.” |
| News on Thursday of Thompson’s death spread around the trans community in the region like “wildfire”, according to Saorsa Tweedale, who founded the Bradford-based social support group Trans Positive. | News on Thursday of Thompson’s death spread around the trans community in the region like “wildfire”, according to Saorsa Tweedale, who founded the Bradford-based social support group Trans Positive. |
| On Transgender Day Of Remembrance, she said that it brought an even greater poignancy to bear on a public event being held Friday at a church in Huddersfield, where a candle would be lit for every transgender person who had been murdered this year. | On Transgender Day Of Remembrance, she said that it brought an even greater poignancy to bear on a public event being held Friday at a church in Huddersfield, where a candle would be lit for every transgender person who had been murdered this year. |
| “If her death can actually trigger a change in the way that trans people are treated in the prison service then that is the good that we hope would come of this great sadness,” said Tweedale. | “If her death can actually trigger a change in the way that trans people are treated in the prison service then that is the good that we hope would come of this great sadness,” said Tweedale. |
| MoJ guidelines had already been under scrutiny following the widespread attention given to the case of Tara Hudson after transgender activists successfully campaigned to have her relocated from a men’s prison. | MoJ guidelines had already been under scrutiny following the widespread attention given to the case of Tara Hudson after transgender activists successfully campaigned to have her relocated from a men’s prison. |
| Her mother, Jackie Brooklyn, said that Hudson had been very upset when she told her about Thompson’s death in a phone call on Friday. “I just can’t believe that it has happened after everything that went on a few weeks ago, and then they have done it again,” said Brooklyn. | Her mother, Jackie Brooklyn, said that Hudson had been very upset when she told her about Thompson’s death in a phone call on Friday. “I just can’t believe that it has happened after everything that went on a few weeks ago, and then they have done it again,” said Brooklyn. |
| The suggestion that some inhabitants of all female prisons might feel intimated as a result of any new guidelines resulting in people being sent to their facilities despite not having started any sex reassignment surgery is described by campaigners as a red herring. “Someone may well have fully transitioned and not have had any sex reassignment surgery. It has already been resolved in the law. That’s an issue now and prisons have got around that,” said Hunt. | The suggestion that some inhabitants of all female prisons might feel intimated as a result of any new guidelines resulting in people being sent to their facilities despite not having started any sex reassignment surgery is described by campaigners as a red herring. “Someone may well have fully transitioned and not have had any sex reassignment surgery. It has already been resolved in the law. That’s an issue now and prisons have got around that,” said Hunt. |
| Spelling out the detail of the change Stonewall wanted to see, she added: “The law needs to change so that people need to be able to change gender without a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, so that they should be able to determine their own gender. This is what happens in Ireland and in Malta. | Spelling out the detail of the change Stonewall wanted to see, she added: “The law needs to change so that people need to be able to change gender without a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, so that they should be able to determine their own gender. This is what happens in Ireland and in Malta. |
| “We are behind in this, and it’s because we make someone have to go through diagnosis and make them go through medical procedures. The key is to de-medicalise people who transition, so that people can identify their gender. What this will lead to is that the criminal justice system will work with the person to determine what’s safest for them.” | “We are behind in this, and it’s because we make someone have to go through diagnosis and make them go through medical procedures. The key is to de-medicalise people who transition, so that people can identify their gender. What this will lead to is that the criminal justice system will work with the person to determine what’s safest for them.” |