MP urges police to probe trans charity

LIZ Truss has backed calls for a thorough investigation into transgender youth charity Mermaids after an MP urged that the police are called in.

The Prime Minister agreed that the controversial organisation should be ‘ properly looked at’ after a Tory backbencher accused it of failing to keep children safe.

Mermaids is already facing the prospect of a Charity Commission investigation over allegations that it was sending chest binders to children as young as 13 against their parents’ wishes.

And one of its trustees quit after it emerged he had spoken at an event organised by a paedophile support group.

Some public sector organisations including the Department for Education, NHS trusts and councils are now removing links to the charity – which supports transgender young people – from their websites.

Raising the controversy in Prime Minister’s Questions for the first time, Tory MP Miriam Cates said: ‘For years, despite whistleblowers raising alarm, Mermaids have had unfettered access to vulnerable children.

‘Does my right honourable friend [Miss Truss] agree it’s taken far too long for these concerns to be taken seriously and [that] it is high time for a police investigation into the activities of Mermaids?’

The Prime Minister replied: ‘ It’s very important that underage teens are able to develop their own decisionmaking capabilities and not be forced into any kind of activity.

‘On the subject of the investigation she raises, of course

‘Concerns have been raised’

those matters should be properly looked at.’

The Charity Commission said: ‘Concerns have been raised with us about Mermaids’ approach to safeguarding young people.

‘We have opened a regulatory compliance case and have written to the trustees.’

Mermaids has not responded to the claims in Parliament but yesterday said it was reducing the hours of its helpline because of ‘ abuse towards staff and volunteers’.