Anyone with any sense at all can see some very real dangers in housing men in a women's prison, no matter how politically correct that may be. Anyone with any sense at all can see that this practice will encourage some male inmates, even sex offenders, to suddenly claim to be "transgender" to gain such housing.
In the United Kingdom, despite statute, despite a UK Supreme Court decision upholding the biological precept that sex, for the purposes of public policy, is a matter of biology, "transgender women" are still being housed in a women's prison in Surrey.
Trans criminals are still being held in a women’s prison despite the Supreme Court ruling that sexes must be segregated.
Ministers have admitted that five trans women – biological men – are being held in the E Wing of HMP Downview in Surrey, despite concerns they could pose a risk to female prisoners.
Labour activists have now urged David Lammy, the new Justice Secretary, to close the wing for trans prisoners, which they say is not effectively separated from the women in the rest of the building, and move them to the male estate.
They also said the presence of trans prisoners violated April’s Supreme Court ruling that segregation between men and women should be on the basis of biological sex rather than the gender they identify as.
Now, in the name of fairness, we should point out that the five "transgender women" - men - housed in the Surrey prison are segregated into a separate wing of the prison, presumably without access to the women's quarters. That last part is, apparently, somewhat in doubt.
The wing for trans women at HMP Downview was opened in 2019, but a number of trans women were moved away in the wake of the Isla Bryson case.
And:
“E Wing is not part of the general women’s estate. Prisoners on E Wing are held separately from other prisoners at HMP/YOI Downview and can only access the wider prison’s regime where this is supervised by staff and has been risk-assessed to ensure safety.”
However, the prison’s independent monitoring board has found that a shortage of staff meant it was not possible to ensure biologically male prisoners are supervised properly.
Why is this even an issue? These are criminals. These are men. House them in the men's prison. End of problem.
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This isn't a matter of how people do or do not "identify." Law-abiding adults are free to "identify" as they please, and much good may it do them. But we are talking here about prisoners, persons who have committed crimes against the people of the United Kingdom. There's just no reason to cater to their "identifications," not when it comes to prison housing. In this, we have to acknowledge reality. Otherwise, inevitably, trouble arises. Case in point: "Karen" White, a transgender woman, while housed in HMP New Hall, a women's prison, had a history of sexual assaults against women. White sexually assaulted two female inmates while in HMP New Hall.
White, a known sex offender, should never have been in the position to commit these crimes. But because he "identified" as female, two actual women inmates were sexually assaulted.
The UK Ministry of Justice has this to say on the matter:
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice confirmed that although trans prisoners were separated, in some circumstances they may join supervised activities, but only after a rigorous local risk assessment. They are supervised by prison staff.
So, in the event of staffing shortages, there remains the possible dangers of housing these men is still a possible danger. There is still contact. There are still, possibly, opportunities for these "transgender women" - men - to commit an assault.
Why take the chance? These prisoners are men. They have been convicted of crimes carrying a sentence of imprisonment. The United Kingdom's penal system is under no obligation to cater to their preferences. They should be housed in the men's prison, and save the British taxpayer some money. The Ministry of Justice admits that this is already the case, mostly.
“This is a separate unit for transgender prisoners, isolated from the main female population and only has access to the wider prison’s regime under exceptional circumstances following robust risk assessments and they are subject to constant direct supervision,” he said.
“The vast majority of trans women in prison are in men’s prisons and we are reviewing our transgender prisoner policy in light of the Supreme Court ruling.”
Good. The precedent is established. Put the remaining inmates in men's prisons. Close down that extra wing, or use it to house actual female prisoners. Comply fully with the law and the United Kingdom's Supreme Court decision. Get it done.
