New guidance on the placement of transgender women in prisons has been released by the UK Government.
The new measures state that transgender women with male genitalia or those who have been convicted of a violent or sexual offence will not be held in the general women's estate, unless in exceptional cases.
The move has been criticised by some members of the transgender community who say that it is fear-mongering and lacks common sense.
An op-ed in The Metro expressed frustration and exhaustion with the new guidance, calling out the viscerally transphobic reactions that are often elicited by discussions around transgender women in prison.
On the other hand, the editorial agreed that anyone who has committed a serious sexual offence should be separated from other prisoners, regardless of gender identity.
The stance on transgender prisoners in the UK has been a source of controversy for some time.
The new guidance comes after a high profile case where a transgender woman, who had not undergone gender reassignment surgery, was placed in a women's prison and went on to sexually assault two inmates.
Others feel that the new guidance represents a step towards a more rational approach to the issue, balancing the needs of all prisoners for safety and security.