Fury of female prison officers ordered to strip search dangerous trans convict

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Transgender prisoner Tiffany Scott who was formerly known as Andrew Burns (Image: The Central Scotland News Agency))
Transgender prisoner Tiffany Scott who was formerly known as Andrew Burns (Image: The Central Scotland News Agency))

Furious female prison officers were ordered to strip search a dangerous trans convict.

Full body searches of transgender prisoner Tiffany Scott were carried out by the female officers after Scott’s gender was changed from “male” to “female” on a prison's record system.

It emerged Scott had stalked a 13-year-old girl before transitioning and while known as Andrew Burns.

The prisoner then asked for as transfer to a women’s prison.

The Daily Record reports an insider at the jail said: “nothing else about Scott has changed physically,” and women officers who refused to do the searches have to submit their reasons in writing.

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Fury of female prison officers ordered to strip search dangerous trans convictTiffany Scott was previously known as Andrew Burns before transitioning (Central Scotland News Agency)

The transfer of 31-year-old Scott from HMP Low Moss, near Glasgow, to a women’s prison later this year was blocked after Scottish Prison Service plans were revealed.

A political storm, brought criticism of Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and led to the halting of all trans prisoners with a history of violence against women being sent to women’s prisons.

Now female officers from the Low Moss male prison have come forward to express their concerns over women having to carry out searches on Scott – who has to remove clothing for the procedure.

One whistle-blower revealed that several female prison staff have repeatedly refused to do searches on Scott, who still has male genitalia.

They also expressed safety concerns after Scott had a “meltdown” after learning their move to a female prison was being blocked.

Fury of female prison officers ordered to strip search dangerous trans convictLow Moss prison officers believe females should not have to carry out full body searches on Scott or any other trans prisoner with male genitalia (PA)

A Low Moss officer spoke out after discussions with fellow staff members – all of whom believe female workers should not have to carry out full body searches on Scott or any other trans prisoner with male genitalia.

The source said: “This all started last summer when the PR2 system (Prisoner Records) suddenly designated Scott to be a woman, several years after changing name to Tiffany Scott.

“Up to then a woman would not have been asked to search the lower half during a full body search, obviously because it would have been totally inappropriate to ask a woman to do that.

“But from one day to the next it became inappropriate for male officers to do the searches – and the human rights of the female staff went out the window. It’s mad because nothing else about Scott has changed physically.

Fury of female prison officers ordered to strip search dangerous trans convictHMP Low Moss prison near Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire (PA)

“She still has the same male parts and several women therefore refused to search Scott. They’ve been told they have to write up their reasons in a paper and submit it to bosses.”

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The source said a refusal leads to another woman being asked to do the search – often a probationer if they are available.

They added: “No one has been disciplined for refusing but probationers and less experienced staff have felt forced to do it and the entire workforce is supportive of them.

We keep hearing about trans prisoners’ rights – but surely there is a bigger issue with the rights of female prison staff?”

A full body search would take place whenever a prisoner might be attending an external appointment, like hospital.

This has been quite common, because of Tiffany Scott’s history of violence and disruption in the prison.

The source said Scott has previously agreed to consultations regarding gender reassignment but then refused to meet appointments.

Fury of female prison officers ordered to strip search dangerous trans convictIsla Bryson, formerly known as Adam Graham, also became the subject of a transgender row (PA)

The Mirror reported earlier how a transgender woman was been found guilty of raping two women before transitioning.

Isla Bryson, 31, from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, committed the crimes before she transitioned and when she was known by the “dead name” Adam Graham.

After a six-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow, a jury found Bryson guilty of raping two women: one in Clydebank in 2016 and one in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019.

She met both her victims online, with prosecutors saying she “preyed” on vulnerable women.

Bryson denied the charges, saying in evidence she “would never hurt another human being”.

But after less than a day of deliberation, a jury found her guilty of both rape charges.

Mark McGivern

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