Scottish Labour leader vows to ban trans women from female prisons

Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar has vowed to ban trans women from all women’s prisons in Scotland “within days” if he becomes First Minister after the Holyrood election.

I’m writing for daily records On February 2, Sarwar said his party would “act swiftly” to ensure that the country’s prisons are “segregated based on biological sex” if passed by a vote.

Her pledge was announced ahead of a sessional court hearing between grassroots women’s organization For Women Scotland and the Scottish Government in Scotland’s highest civil court this week.

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FWS is taking action against the government over what they call “unlawful” prison guidelines. Current Scottish Prison Service guidance allows trans women to be admitted to women’s prisons if the prisoner does not meet the criteria for violence against women and girls and is deemed not to pose an “unacceptable risk of harm” to other prisoners.

Sarwar said: “The Supreme Court is clear: Equality laws must be respected. That means protecting same-sex spaces for biological women in service, in sport and in everyday life. That’s what I will do in government. But nowhere is this more important than in our prison system. Women’s prisons exist for a reason – to keep women safe.”

She added: “Many women in custody have experienced trauma and violence at the hands of men. It is simply not right that men who commit sexual and violent crimes against women should be housed in women’s prisons. This undermines safety, dignity and trust.”

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