Transgender inmates to be addressed by preferred pronoun, rules state

Prison officers could face disciplinary action if they use the wrong pronoun when addressing transgender inmates

  • New rules outline treatment of transgender, non-binary and gender fluid inmates
  • Prison guards will now face reprimands if they do not abide by latest guidelines
  • Latest rules include those who are not seeking legal recognition for their gender
  • Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons estimates 1,500 prisoners are transgender

Prison guards will be reprimanded if they do not call transgender inmates by the correct pronoun.

New Government guidelines have been published which state how transgender, non-binary and gender fluid prisoners should be treated.

It includes people who are seeking to transition into a new gender, as well as those who are not seeking legal recognition for the gender in which they identify.

There are currently 97 transgender prisoners in male prisons, with 92 identify as female, two as male and three who did not provide a response.

Of the 42 in female prisons, 22 identified as female, 17 as male and three did not respond.

New Government guidelines have been published which state how transgender, non-binary and gender fluid prisoners should be treated (pictured is HMP Belmarsh in south-east London)

The latest government figures show that there are currently 83,000 inmates in the current prison system. 

The Ministry of Justice policy says all prisoners who declare themselves as transgender must be permitted to express themselves in that way.

But that does not mean they will necessarily get placed in a prison of the gender they choose.

And it says officers must use pronouns, such as he, she or they, of the prisoner’s choice.

The guidelines state: ‘Staff must make every effort to communicate with individuals in ways that respect their gender identity, using appropriate verbal and written communication and use of pronouns.

‘Individuals who are transgender must be allowed to adopt a gender-appropriate or gender neutral name and be addressed by others consistent with the gender with they identify, or as gender neutral.’


Karen White was born Stephen Wood, and had previously been jailed for rape but was transferred to New Hall women’s prison in West Yorkshire last year after changing his name and starting to wear wigs and women’s clothing

Transgender inmates are initially placed in prisons of their legal gender, meaning most identify with the opposite gender of the jail.

They can then apply to a Local Transgender Case Board to change prison. 

However Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, a watchdog, estimates there are 1,500 prisoners who claim to be transgender.

Convicted as a woman, jailed with men 

Tara Hudson has lived as a woman all her adult life

Tara Hudson has lived as a woman all her adult life but was sent to a male prison after she admitted head-butting a barman. 

While in HMP Bristol, she claims she was kept in her cell ‘like a zoo animal’ while other inmates were allowed to go to the gym or take courses.

During the week-long ordeal, Hudson, above, said she was groped and also abused by baying male prisoners. After an outcry, she was moved to Eastwood Park women’s jail in Gloucestershire.

Mick Pimblett, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, said members fully supported the policy.

He said: ‘We were involved in the formulation of this policy right from the onset.

‘So we would agree with the policy, and we think it’s only right and proper that transgender prisoners receive the same support as lesbian, gay and bisexual prisoners.

‘Prison officers within the prison service have dealt with transgender prisoners for a number of years, and they’ve always been treated with decency.

‘I think this policy has now formalised it more. The policy supplements how people should be treated in prison anyway.’

However while there is a clear transgender policy for prisoners, Mr Pimblett said he was concerned that there were no similar guidelines for trans prison staff.

‘There is no policy in place for anything at all, for the difficulties they may have as a transgender member of staff,’ he said.

‘If they go on leave as a male and return as a female for example, the prisoners will know them, they may abuse them.

‘While we have all of these provisions for prisoners, there is not one single provision for transgender staff.’

Mr Pimblett said there were ‘quite a number’ of transgender prison staff, and several had complained to the union about the lack of policy.

In March, the Ministry of Justice opened its first transgender prison unit within HMP Downview, a women’s prison in Sutton, south London.

This came after Karen White, a transgender prisoner, sexually assaulted two women while on remand in New Hall jail in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

There are currently 97 transgender prisoners in male prisons, with 92 identify as female, two as male and three who didn’t provide a response (shown is HMP Belmarsh)

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