https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11726165/Police-Scotland-defy-Sturgeons-gender-self-ID-drive-calling-transgender-butcher-suspect-man.htmlPolice Scotland defy Nicola Sturgeon's gender self-ID drive by calling transgender butcher arrested over disappearance of 11-year-old girl a man as embattled First Minister is engulfed by trans row
Andrew George Miller, 53, was charged over schoolgirl, 11, who had disappeared
Police Scotland say Miller is a man, despite the fact suspect identifies as woman
By Dan Sales For Mailonline
Published: 09:20, 8 February 2023 | Updated: 09:35, 8 February 2023
Police say a transgender butcher charged in Scotland over an 11-year-old schoolgirl's disappearance is a man - in a move at odds with Nicola Sturgeon's gender ID drive. Police Scotland said this morning Andrew George Miller, 53, had now been charged after the teenager was found safe at a house near Galashiels on Monday night. The suspect now identifies as a woman called Amy George, but has two Facebook profiles and posts under both male and female identities. Miller's now closed butcher Millers of Melrose had been featured in one of JK Rowling's Strike novels and at one point the passage was displayed in the shop window. The police declaration that Miller is a man seems at odds with the Scottish First Minister's gender self-ID crusade. Ms Sturgeon has come under sustained pressure over her Gender Recognition Act over fears it could make it easier for predatory men to pose as women. She has faced a maelstrom of criticism in the wake of the Isla Bryson scandal which saw a rapist who attacked two women self-identify as a female in an apparent bid for easier jail time. As is customary in Scottish law, it is not specified what offence or offences Miller has been charged with by police. Under the male identity Miller appeared to be very interested in Sturgeon's new law, posting online in January this year: 'Silly billies in Westminster Never mess with Scottish Transgender Issues'.
A team of forensic officers have been seen at Miller's home in the village of Gattonside. It is three miles away from where the primary pupil was last spotted before she went missing. A neighbour said: 'A man was seen being put into the back of the police vehicle. It's a really affluent area and is extremely quiet so this has all come as a bit of a shock. The person who lives there used to run the butcher shop in Melrose. They use a woman's name now but were previously known as Andrew and are very well known in the community.'
The 53-year-old arrested over the disappearance was identified as a man in the police's publicity yesterday. A force statement said: 'A 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of an 11-year-old girl from Galashiels, who was reported missing on Sunday, February 5. The girl was traced at a property in the Galashiels area at about 9.30pm on Monday, February 6. Inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.'
Police who had been looking for her were joined by volunteers, Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team and the Borders Search and Rescue Unit, while a helicopter scoured the area. Specialist water search teams trawled the River Tweed in the hunt for clues, while members of the public were urged to check their outbuildings and sheds for any sign of the missing youngster. Speaking at a press conference outside Galashiels police station on Monday, area commander Chief Superintendent Catriona Paton issued a plea for information. Police publicly announced that the girl had been discovered 'safe and well' at about 10.30pm on Monday while thanking everyone for their search efforts.
