Transgender rapist in women’s prison in Scotland raises safety fears, says Joanna Cherry MP | UK News
An SNP MP said a convicted transgender rapist should not be kept in a women’s prison because it raises safety concerns.
Isla Bryson, 31 years old, is Convicted this week raped two women when she was a man.
Bryson attacked one victim in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, in 2016 and another in Drumchapel, glasgowin 2019.
During the trial, the High Court in Glasgow heard that Bryson is now identified as a transgender woman and was formerly named Adam Graham.
Giving evidence, Bryson claimed she knew she was transgender at the age of 4 but did not make the decision to be transgender until the age of 29.
She is currently taking hormones and looking to have surgery to complete her sex change.
Bryson has denied the allegations and stated that any sex was consensual
After his conviction, Bryson was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.
She is currently being held at Cornton Vale Women’s Prison in Stirling.
‘I think we should talk about these cases’
SNP MP Joanna Cherry, chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said she was “very concerned” about the safety of female prisoners at Cornton Vale.
Speaking to Times Radio, Ms Cherry said: “To many, it seemed like this convicted rapist tricked the system into trying to garner sympathy and ended up in a women’s prison. And I think many people will be shocked by that.
“So I think we should talk about these cases. And women in prison are very vulnerable. Many women in prison themselves are abused and suffer injuries for many years. So, they particularly vulnerable, and perhaps some would say that no one really cares about prisoners.
“But the problem with human rights is that they are universal and apply to everyone. So I am very concerned about the safety of female prisoners who have been convicted of rape.”
Joanna Cherry MP says Bryson should be in a men’s prison
Miss Cherry thinks Bryson should be in a men’s prison.
Her comments came after the British government blocked Holyrood’s controversial Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill this will speed up and simplify the process for transgender people to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC).
Bryson made her court debut as Adam Graham in 2019 and was later named in court papers the following year – around the time she decided to be transgender – as Isla Annie Bryson .
Bryson, from Clydebank, denied the allegations and insisted any sex was consensual.
Speaking before Bryson at the dock on Tuesday, judge Lord Scott said: “You have been found guilty by a jury of two extremely serious counts; that is rape.”
He told her the crimes were “substantial” and that “a significant sentence is inevitable”.
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The Scottish Government says the Scottish Prison Service uses “comprehensive individual risk assessments” to inform decisions such as prisoner placement and is “not the basis of a Gender Recognition Certificate”. .
The spokesperson added: “The (Scotland) Gender Recognition Reform Bill does not change this process in any way.”
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “SPS decisions about the most appropriate location to accommodate transgender people are made on an individual basis, informed by a multidisciplinary assessment of both risks and needs.
“Such decisions are intended to protect both the welfare and rights of individuals as well as the welfare and rights of others around them, including employees, in order to achieve an outcome that balances risks and promotes everyone’s safety.
“When there is any concern about any risk posed by an individual, to themselves or others, we have the ability to keep them separate from the mainstream community until a plan is in place. management has been agreed.”
