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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ellie Forbes & Kathleen Nutt & Lynn Love

Calls made for Scotland to follow Italy's lead by opening jail for transgender prisoners

Calls have been made for Scotland to open a jail for transgender prisoners like in Italy - amid concerns over male born violent offenders being held in female facilities.

The demand follows a public outcry after a transgender woman, Isla Bryson, was sent to Cornton Vale women's prison in Stirling after being convicted of two rapes.

On Saturday it was said a second transgender woman Tiffany Scott - dubbed one of Scotland's most dangerous prisoners - could be moved to Cornton Vale this year.

Marion Calder, co-director of For Women Scotland, an organisation opposed to the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, called for Scotland to create a trans prison like in Italy.

Ms Calder said: "Males should never be moved into women- only spaces.

"I think a sensible provision would be having a third space for transwomen prisoners.

"Italy has done this. Italy has created a trans prison."

Italy opened one of the world's first prisons for transgender inmates in 2010 after converting a former women's prison.

The prison, at Pozzale, near Florence, is believed to hold around 30 prisoners who mainly have convictions for drug-related offences and prostitution.

Gay rights groups in Italy welcomed the move at the time.

Until it opened transgender prisoners were located in women's prisons where they were often segregated.

According to reports, the prison has its own library, recreation centre, football pitch and agricultural land which produces olive oil and wine.

Inmates also have their own cell and are given a personal development plan.

According to the most recent Scottish Prison Service figures, published in September, there are 15 transgender prisoners in custody, 11 transwomen and four transgender men.

Of the 11 transwomen six are in male prisons and five in women's prisons and of the four transgender men, three are in women's prisons while one is in a male prison.

Ms Calder said as the number of transwomen prisoners is small rather than a separate jail, another option could be to have a separate wing for transwomen prisoners.

She said such a unit should be attached to a male prison rather than a female one arguing if it was a women's prison there was a risk the offender could come into contact with biological women as many services in prisons are shared.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "There are currently no plans for a separate prison unit for transgender women prisoners in Scotland.

"Decisions by the Scottish Prison Service as to the most appropriate location to accommodate transgender people are made on an individualised basis, informed by a multi-disciplinary assessment of both risk and need."

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