New data published by the Sunday Times in the UK shows that women face substantially higher risk of sexual assault in gender neutral bathrooms.

At the start of the transgender bathroom debate, we had people on the right and trans exclusionary feminists arguing that if we open female spaces to biological males, those females face a risk of sexual violence.

But many people on the left and pro-trans activists argued that no, trans women are not going to attack women, they're typically the victims of violence and need a safe space.

The problem with the framing of this debate is that people didn't take into account how businesses would respond to the new laws.

While many businesses simply said, use whatever bathroom you'd like, male or female,

newer businesses are creating gender neutral bathrooms. These are single facilities used by biological males and biological females, creating an opportunity for some biological males to assault women when they're in private.

So let's take a look at what this data actually says and look at how the gender bathroom debate has continued.

The story from the independent, UNICEX changing rooms put women at danger of sexual assault data reveals.

The vast majority of reported sexual assault at public swimming pools in the UK take place in UNICEX changing rooms, new statistics reveal.

The data obtained through a freedom of information request by the Sunday Times suggests that UNICEX changing rooms are more dangerous for women and girls than single sex facilities.

Just under 90% of complaints regarding changing room sexual assaults, voyeurism and harassment are about incidents in UNICEX facilities.

What's more, two thirds of all sexual attacks at leisure centers and public swimming pools take place in UNICEX changing rooms, of 134 complaints over 2017 to 2018.

120 reported incidents took place in gender neutral changing rooms and just 14 were in single sex changing areas.

UNICEX facilities account for less than half of the changing areas across the UK, but the number is on the rise.

Doing away with separate male and female changing rooms and toilets is seen as a way to cut staff costs and better care for transgender people.

These figures show that women and girls are more vulnerable in mixed changing rooms and there is a danger these places are becoming a magnet for sexual offenders, says David Davies MP for mom-muff.

It simply doesn't make sense to enable men to have greater access to women's spaces.

The reforms to gender recognition will grant that access.

The concept of UNICEX changing areas and toilets has proven controversial.

Two years ago, visitors to Chelsea Sports Center in West London voiced their anger at plans to merge the male and female changing rooms over fears of compromised privacy and increased risk of sexual harassment.

However, it's not just in swimming pools and leisure centers that UNICEX changing areas are on the rise.

High street chain top shop, for example, has had gender neutral changing rooms for nearly a year.

...