Prisoners up in arms about special treatment for transgender cellmates
by Ned Donovan and Martin Beckford, Mailonline:
Transgender convicts can dictate how they are searched and addressed by prison officers under extraordinary privileges laid out in official guidance uncovered by The Mail on Sunday.
The special treatment has angered other inmates, who say some are changing gender just so that they can enjoy the advantages.
Transgender prisoners also have greater freedom in how they dress, have access to make-up and wigs, and can shower and wash their clothes in private.
The new rules came into force a year ago following a rapid rise in the number of transgender inmates and concern about their treatment.
Latest figures show there were 125 transgender prisoners in England and Wales at the end of March 2017, up from 70 a year earlier.
At least four have died in custody.
The new rules state that prison staff must ‘communicate in ways that respect the gender’ prisoners identify with, including the name and pronoun they prefer.
They are also entitled to choose their hair styles, make-up and clothing.
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