Trans woman found dead after being sent to male prison
A transgender woman has been found dead in a men’s prison in Leeds.
21 year old Vikki Thompson was found dead inside Leeds prison last Friday.
She had been given a 12 month sentence for an as yet unknown conviction, but according to the BBC the sentence was later suspended.
However, Thompson was later made to serve her original 12 month sentence after breaking the terms of her suspended sentence.
Thompson’s boyfriend, Robert Steele told the BBC “She didn’t like it in there because people were saying things to her because she was dressing as a female.”
Mohammed Hussain, added that he had told the judge that Thompson was “essentially a woman,” and that she was vulnerable and should have been sent to a women’s prison.
A Prison Service spokesman added: “HMP Leeds prisoner Vikki Thompson was found unresponsive on the evening of Friday, 13 November.
“Staff and paramedics attempted resuscitation but she was pronounced dead at 21:10 GMT.
“As with all deaths in custody there will be an investigation by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman”.
Earlier this month Caroline Dinenage, Junior Minister for Women, Equalities and Family Justice, said in a statement that “Prisoners are normally placed according to their legally recognised gender.
“However, the guidelines allow some room for discretion and senior prison staff will review the circumstances of every case in consultation with medical and other experts in order to protect the physical and emotional well being of the person concerned along with the safety and wellbeing of other prisoners.”
The minister later confirmed that a review of the treatment of transgender prisoners began earlier this year and a revised policy will come into force early next year.
Last month the case of Tara Hudson attracted large scale media attention after transgender activists began a campaign to have her relocated from a men’s prison.
