Italy 'to open first prison for transgender inmates'

Italy is to open one of the world's first prisons for transgender inmates, reports say.

The prison, at Pozzale, near the Tuscan city of Florence, is expected to house inmates who mainly have convictions for drug-related offences and prostitution.

Gay rights groups in Italy welcomed the move to convert an almost empty medium security women's prison into a specially equipped detention centre.



It is thought that Italy has a total of some 60 transgender prisoners.

The centre will house about 30 people, according to reports.

Until now transgender prisoners have been located in women's prisons where they are often segregated for their own safety.