Apology is made for police letter addressing transgender woman as '˜Mr'

Rachel Dios said she understood the mistake was unintentional but that she was worried other transgender people would lose confidence reporting crime to the police.

She said officers have promised to look into how transgender individuals are addressed following her concerns, which include a transgender person being inadvertently outed by the letter if they live in communal accommodation.

Rachel, who works as a ward manager at a Chichester hospital, reported an incident of hate crime two weeks ago after a group of men shouted abuse at her in South Street, Chichester.

The letter from police was to state the investigation had been closed due to lack of evidence, but Rachel said it was important such incidents were reported.

Rachel said: ‘I don’t believe it was malicious.

‘It was an automatic computer error, but it’s unacceptable.’