‘Call 999’ advice to trans women made to leave female-only spaces

TRANS women should call 999 if they feel unsafe after being asked to leave womenonly spaces, the UK’s largest child transgender charity has said.

Mermaids said it was ‘not happy’ with the equality and human Rights Commission’s ruling that trans women can be excluded from female-only spaces if there is a legitimate reason, such as protecting privacy.

Last month the ehRC published guidance to help venues make lawful decisions on services they offer to women and men separately, such as toilets. Mermaids said the guidance was ‘not the law and cannot be enforced’ before listing tips on what to do if ‘someone asks you to leave a facility’.

It advises those ‘at risk of harm’ to ‘call someone you trust, or... 999’. Naomi Cunningham, a discrimination law barrister, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘The advice to call 999 is grossly irresponsible.’

Mermaids was contacted for comment.