The decision to place double rapist Isla Bryson in the segregation unit at Scotland’s Cornton Vale women’s prison, ahead of sentencing, has sparked a political crisis that looks unlikely to abate soon. Following a backlash, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon quickly announced that Bryson would not stay at Cornton Vale. That same day, Bryson was moved to a male wing at … [Read more...] about Isla Bryson: a trauma-blind response in prison
Policing the gender identity debate
Over the last two years a fierce debate has erupted about how sex and gender identity should be defined in law and policy, or what it means to be a man or a woman.The main point of tension is between a view of transgender rights as based on a person’s beliefs about their gender identity and women’s rights as based on their biological sex. From a trans rights … [Read more...] about Policing the gender identity debate
Revealed: ongoing costs of flawed BTP merger
While the recently announced delay to the British Transport Police (BTP) merger with Police Scotland was a welcome relief, it will nonetheless come at a cost that wasn’t accounted for on either side of the border.The BTP and BTP Authority anticipated a clean break by early 2019. Meanwhile, the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) is now expected to meet ongoing transition costs … [Read more...] about Revealed: ongoing costs of flawed BTP merger
The case for an independent review of the BTP merger
Against a backdrop of safety concerns, the Scottish Government has recently announced that the merger of BTP Scotland into Police Scotland will be delayed. As yet, no new date has been specified. The decision to delay the merger is both sensible and welcome. At the same time, it was announced that the BTP integration Joint Programme Board (JPB) will oversee the revised … [Read more...] about The case for an independent review of the BTP merger
Passing the baton on the BTP merger
With less than 18 months until the integration of BTP in Scotland into Police Scotland, the fact that the project remains un-costed has prompted criticism from MSPs, as well as uneasy questions from Scottish Police Authority (SPA) members.For the SPA, the question of costs presents members with a dilemma. Authority members are expected to provide ongoing assurance and … [Read more...] about Passing the baton on the BTP merger