Transgender women who are accused of a sex offence can be referred to as men under new guidance to prosecutors.
Barristers have been told that ‘where it is appropriate’ they can address biologically male trans women as men when they are facing allegations of sexual violence.
The Crown Prosecution Service set out changes to its guidance following a legal challenge brought by gender-critical campaign group Sex Matters.
It came after a series of cases in which biologically male defendants being prosecuted for sex crimes were referred to as women in court.
For example, in 2024 a trans woman jailed for raping a woman was
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