Transgender activists have been accused of hijacking an event dedicated to stopping violence against women by campaigners who claim female murders are being ignored.
Feminist groups say they were 'disappointed' by the scant public attention given to an official day for the 'elimination of violence against women' last Wednesday.
They were also angered that an open letter to 'express solidarity' with trans women, signed by MPs and celebrities including The Crown star Olivia Colman and singer Paloma Faith, was made public on the same day.
Transgender activists have been accused of hijacking an event dedicated to stopping violence against women by campaigners (pictured: female protester with female gender symbol)
The campaigners point out an awareness week leading up to Transgender Remembrance Day on November 20 received widespread support from celebrities and institutions such as the Bank of England.
Several police forces also pledged commitment to ending violence against transgender people.
Sussex Police raised a 'transgender pride' flag at its HQ while Hertfordshire Police released a video promising to fight trans hate crime.
But last night, retired Detective Superintendent Caroline Goode said: 'I have not personally seen a single police force show any publicity of any support for the international day of the elimination of violence against women.
'Every woman's life is absolutely precious, but you don't see that same sense of outrage in the public arena at women being murdered as maybe with some other groups.'
The letter, published online, states that 'trans women' are 'more likely' to be murdered in their own homes than 'their cis sisters' – a reference to biological females. But feminists challenged the claim.
Figures released last week from a study, entitled Femicide Census, show that between 2009 and 2018 some 1,425 female victims were killed by men in Britain.
By comparison, a charity named Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide reported that between 2008 and 2020, 13 trans people were murdered in the UK.
The campaigners point out an awareness week leading up to Transgender Remembrance Day on November 20 received widespread support (stock image of transgender flag)
Co-founder of the Femicide Census, Karen Ingala Smith, said: 'Of course the abuse and violence faced by transgender people is abhorrent.
'But in my view it was in poor taste to publish a letter that seemed to hijack a day meant to be about violence against women and make it about violence against trans people.
'The Bank of England was lit up pink and blue on the evening of the trans day of remembrance and celebrities are rushing to support trans causes.
'But as far as we know there hasn't been one single trans person killed this year in Britain.
'On the international day for the elimination of violence against women, at least 108 women in the UK had been killed by men since the same day last year.
'Those women were not commemorated with a pretty light show.'