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Women's Prisons: Transgender People

Asked by Rebecca PaulConservativeMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 3 June 2025UIN 904355

The question

How many biological males are held in women's prisons.

Answered by Sir Nicholas Dakin

No transgender women who retain their birth genitalia, or have any history of sexual or violent offences, can be held in the general women’s estate unless an exemption is granted by a Minister.

The number of transgender women prisoners in the general women's estate is in the low single figures.

This is as a result of decisions taken by past Justice Secretaries, and the current Government has not moved any transgender women into the general women’s estate since taking office.

We are reviewing transgender prisoner policy following the recent Supreme Court ruling. We will ensure that we are fully compliant with this ruling, which has brought long overdue and much needed clarity to this question.

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