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| Scottish Prison Service to carry out 'urgent review' of trans inmates | Scottish Prison Service to carry out 'urgent review' of trans inmates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Isla Bryson, a convicted rapist, was moved from Cornton Vale to a male wing at HMP Edinburgh | |
| The Scottish Prison Service has announced an "urgent review" of all transgender cases in its prisons. | The Scottish Prison Service has announced an "urgent review" of all transgender cases in its prisons. |
| It says it will pause the movement of all transgender inmates until the review is completed. | It says it will pause the movement of all transgender inmates until the review is completed. |
| The move follows outcry about the case of Isla Bryson, a trans woman convicted of raping two women before changing gender. | |
| She was initially remanded to Cornton Vale women's prison before being moved to a male wing at HMP Edinburgh. | |
| Justice Secretary Keith Brown said the "urgent lessons learned review" into the Bryson case will be completed by Friday. | |
| The prison service was already undertaking a wider review of its transgender policy, which will continue. | |
| Until that ends, Mr Brown said: | |
| No transgender person already in custody with a history of violence against women will be moved from the male to female estate | |
| No newly convicted or remanded transgender prisoner with any history of violence against women (including sexual offences) will be placed in the female estate. | |
| Any exceptional cases will require the approval of Scottish ministers, he said. | |
| "I understand that the issue of any trans woman being convicted of violent and sexual offences is a highly emotive subject and that the public concern is understandable," Mr Brown said. | |
| "As the first minister pointed out last week, we must not allow any suggestion to take root that trans women pose an inherent threat to women. | |
| "Predatory men are the risk to women. However, as with any group in society, a small number of trans women will offend and be sent to prison. | |
| "Therefore, I hope that the measures.... will offer reassurance in the ongoing ability of the prison service to manage trans individuals and ensure the safety of all prisoners." | |
| A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson confirmed that the urgent review had begun. | |
| "Our first concern is always, and remains, the health, safety, and wellbeing of all the people in our care, and that of our staff," they said. | |
| "We have very robust risk assessment processes, and a track record of keeping people safe, in often challenging circumstances. | |
| "We have therefore paused the movement of all transgender individuals, until the review has been completed." | |
| They said the review would consider any history of violence or sexual offending against women, and any associated risk they pose. | |
| The spokesperson added: "Until the review is completed, any trans individuals, with a history of violence towards women, will only be admitted to the male estate, in segregation, when they first enter our care. | |
| "This arrangement will be progressed in line with our human rights obligations. | |
| "Finally, our ongoing policy review will be independently assessed by experts in women affected by trauma and violence." |