Transgender prisoner dies in custody

A transgender prisoner has died in custody, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has confirmed.

SPS said on its website that Tiffany Scott, 32, of HMP Grampian, died on Thursday.

Deaths of prisoners in custody are reported to Police Scotland and the procurator fiscal with a subsequent fatal accident inquiry held to investigate the cause of death.

Scott was convicted of stalking a 13-year-old girl while Andrew Burns in 2013 and had requested to be moved to the female prison estate early last year.

The revelations that Scott could be moved to the female estate prompted a row around the handling of transgender prisoners.

Last year, the Scottish Government was urged to make a statement to clarify its position on housing transgender prisoners within the estate with which their gender identity aligns with.

Then justice secretary Keith Brown denied Scott would be moved to the female estate and announced an urgent review into the Government’s handling of transgender prisoners, which also included rapist Isla Bryson, who attacked two women while known as Adam Graham.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “Tiffany Scott, 32, of HMP Grampian, has died on February 29, 2024.

“With each death in custody, Police Scotland are advised and the matter reported to the procurator fiscal. Fatal accident inquiries are held in due course.”