Number of transgender prisoners in Britain's jails up to 230 in a year

Number of transgender prisoners in Britain’s jails soars 17 per cent to new total of 230 in a year

• Figures show 230 transgender prisoners at end of March, up 197 a year before
• Majority in male prisons, with 162 of them saying they were transgender women 
• Another 11 prisoners have legally changed sex, having obtained a full GRC 

The number of transgender prisoners has surged by 17 per cent in a year.

Official figures show 230 people with a gender identity different to their legal sex were behind bars at the end of March, up from 197 a year earlier.

The majority were in male prisons, the Ministry of Justice data revealed, with 162 of them saying they were transgender women.

But six inmates in female prisons said they were transgender women, having been born male, up from just one in 2021.

Official figures show 230 people with a gender identity different to their legal sex were behind bars at the end of March, up from 197 a year earlier

Another 11 prisoners have legally changed sex, having obtained a full Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), but no further details were provided in order to protect their anonymity.

Campaign group Keep Prisons Single Sex said: ‘There is a marked increase in trans prisoners of male sex allocated to female estate.

‘This is concerning as the 2021 data indicated a marked trend away from allocating prisoners of male sex with no GRC to the female estate.’

Brandon Lewis, then justice secretary, announced that ‘transgender prisoners with male genitalia should no longer be held in the general women’s estate’, nor should ‘transgender women who have been convicted of a sex offence’

However, the figures, revealed in the Offender Equalities Annual Report, could have changed since they were compiled in March, particularly as ministers last month pledged to reform the system in order to protect women.

Brandon Lewis, then justice secretary, announced that ‘transgender prisoners with male genitalia should no longer be held in the general women’s estate’, nor should ‘transgender women who have been convicted of a sex offence’.

An updated policy framework is due to be published within months.

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