Transgender sex offenders in Scotland can breathe a sigh of relief. In the unlikely event that police find time between investigating hate crimes to question suspects, officers will ensure that their preferred pronouns and gender feelings are respected.

Yesterday, The Herald broke the news that Police Scotland had told a Holyrood committee that individuals charged or convicted of rape or attempted rape would be allowed to “self-declare” their sex. This was apparently to “foster a sense of belonging” because Scotland’s rapists deserve the warm and fuzzy glow of being members of a community too.

The report comes after a three-year campaign by policy analysts Murray Blackburn Mackenzie (MBM) calling for clarity on the recording of offenders’ sex.

A petition drafted by MBM in 2021 and signed by 13,000 people outlined their concerns. It explained that sex must be recorded “for data accuracy and trust in official statistics, public policy, media reporting, research, and for trust in public bodies”. But after being pushed for a response by Holyrood’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee, Police Scotland overruled the petitioners’ concerns and stood by the policy of gender self-identification, arguing that it is in accordance with the force’s “values of respect, integrity, fairness and human rights”. Somewhat ironically, the force is currently asking for feedback on social media for how to help shape community policing.

Police Scotland’s adherence to an obviously flawed and unpopular policy is not only tone-deaf: it is reputational suicide. It was the debate over self-identification which helped to dislodge former first minister Nicola Sturgeon. Her successor Humza Yousaf didn’t fare much better, presiding over a catastrophic split with the Scottish Green Party over the issue.

Women’s groups have been calling for a return to sex-based sanity for at least five years. Meanwhile, the Scottish justice system has been thrown into disarray by multiple cases of trans-identified male offenders who have demanded to be treated as women.

The most high-profile of these was double rapist Isla Bryson — also known as Adam Graham. The dangerous offender memorably appeared in court wearing a blonde wig which partially covered his face tattoos. During the case he was referred to using female pronouns, and after sentencing he was initially sent to a women’s prison.

Even trans evangelist Sturgeon was unable to defend the decision, and eventually he was moved to the male estate. Bryson has since claimed to be a victim of “transphobia” in prison, complaining that staff have misgendered him and that he’s been denied access to women’s cosmetics.

That rapists like Bryson have the power to compel speech, and even help to bring down politicians, is precisely the reason Police Scotland should take note. Yet rather than listening to the likes of MBM, it seems decision-makers within the force are determined to prioritise trans inclusivity above sanity and safety. Despite the shift at the top of the SNP and Westminster ruling out Scottish gender self-identification, it will take decades to root trans ideology out of public institutions. Training by lobbying groups and indoctrination in schools have embedded the idea that trans rights are sacred.

Those of us south of the border can’t afford to be complacent. Most constabularies in England and Wales also operate policies of gender self-identification. It seems that, wherever they are, the forces of law and order are united in their determination to protect the feelings of rapists.

Ultimately, in chasing the approval of the trans lobby, the police have made themselves appear every bit as ridiculous and threatening as Isla Bryson in his dodgy wig.

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Josephine Bartosch is assistant editor at The Critic and co-author of the forthcoming book Pornocracy.

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