It comes following the deaths by suicide of Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16, within months in 2018. Constance announced she will head the ministerial accountability board to oversee the implementation of recommendations made following a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the deaths of Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16, who was also known as William Lindsay. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) – which runs Polmont – have already accepted the findings of the inquiry. With 25 recommendations made by Sheriff Simon Collins as part of the inquiry, the Government hopes the new board will ensure “reform is delivered as quickly as possible”, while also providing regular updates for families and those involved. It is being set up as an interim measure until a new independent national oversight body for all deaths in custody – known as a National Oversight Mechanism – is established over the coming year. When up and running, this organisation will take on the responsibility for overseeing the implementation of fatal accident inquiry recommendations. Ms Allan and Mr Brown took their own lives at Polmont in 2018, and Constance said on Wednesday: “We have accepted there needs to be change and action has already started to prevent avoidable deaths in custody. “It is vitally important that this action is being driven to delivering lasting change and to ensure full accountability every step of the way. “That is why I will lead a ministerial board to ensure that Sheriff Collins’s FAI determination recommendations regarding the tragic deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay are being delivered at pace. “The board will drive reform until the National Oversight Mechanism is established. It will provide accountability, transparency and drive systemic improvement, informed by evidence and analysis. “Loss of liberty should not mean the loss of humanity, and every individual deprived of their liberty must be treated with dignity and respect.” Membership of the ministerial accountability board is currently being finalised, with its first meeting expected to take place next month. STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Call for prisons to lose immunity from prosecution after report into suicides of Katie Allan The deaths of two young people in custody could have been avoided according to the long-awaited report of a joint inquiry into their suicides within months of one another which identified “a catalogue of failures” in the system that was charged with their care prompted their families’ lawyer to call on the UK government to end prisons’ immunity from prosecution were able to kill themselves at Polmont young offender institution near Falkirk in 2018 despite staff having been alerted to their specific vulnerabilities At an emotionally charged press conference their families welcomed the damning report by Sheriff Simon Collins KC and demanded a complete overhaul of Scotland’s fatal accident inquiry (FAI) system to make its recommendations legally binding William Brown died within months of each other at Polmont Photograph: Aamer Anwar & Co/PAJohn Reilly a terrified little boy” was left alone in a cell for 10 hours at a time William died three days after he was sent to Polmont because there was no space in a children’s secure unit having walked into a police station with a knife Reilly said his mother and two sisters had all died since 2018 none of them able to come to terms with his death and the unanswered questions around it had heard how William was removed from observations on the morning before he died despite his lengthy history of self-harming behaviour and Collins said “almost all of those who interacted with him were at fault” said her daughter “was brutalised in Polmont so much so that she lost all hope and saw only one solution The University of Glasgow student killed herself while serving a 16-month sentence for dangerous and drink driving The inquiry heard how she was subject to regular humiliating strip searches and relentless bullying and the report identified multiple failures by prison and healthcare staff to record and share information relevant to her self-harm risk Collins found that if Allan’s cell had been made safe – which could have been done at minimal cost – she would not have died Her mother dismissed as a “farce” the Scottish Prison Service’s undertaking of a ligature audit which was promised in 2019 but has still not been done across the SPS estate “The hardest thing for us to accept is that a screwdriver could have saved Katie’s life A bunk bed being replaced by a single bed could have saved William’s life,” she said While FAI determinations cannot apportion blame including that the SPS take practical steps to make cells safer The report criticised the service’s failure to do so in the years since the two deaths in 2018 the executive director of the charity Inquest said the “highly unusual and far-reaching” report was the exception and there had been “an institutional culture of secrecy complacency and neglect both at an individual and corporate level” She said systemic change should involve a radical change in the investigation of deaths in custody with more timely inquiries and access to legal aid for grieving families Coles also called for a national oversight mechanism to monitor and track how recommendations were acted upon and joined the call for an end to crown immunity across the UK said Scotland’s Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service told him before the FAI commenced there was more than sufficient evidence to prosecute the SPS for the deaths under health and safety laws but because of crown immunity nothing could be done this licence to kill was changed by the UK government for all prisons throughout the UK,” he said An SPS spokesperson said it would carefully consider the recommendations “Our thoughts remain with the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay and we would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere condolences and apologies for the failures identified in this report,” they added William had been drinking on the night of Wednesday, 3 October 2018 when he walked into a police station carrying a knife, which he put on the reception desk. Those closest to him insist that he was looking for help. But it’s not surprising that the civilian worker behind the desk was alarmed. William was arrested, charged and held in police custody until he could attend court the following day. William was subject to a compulsory supervision order (an order issued to children who require extra protection). His alleged offence could have been handled by the CHS, as his social workers wanted. But the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (the equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service) disagreed: carrying a weapon into a police station was a serious offence and the case must be heard in an adult court. They have carpets and drawings on the wall. The staff wear their own clothes and are not afraid to give new arrivals a hug. Polmont is grey and clinical. He would have been met and searched by uniformed officers … But it would have been walking into the wing that scared him most: the rows of cells, the clatter and – coming from Glasgow with its territorial warfare – the not knowing who else might be in there. Christine is dead now; so is Shannon; so is Chloe. Shannon’s daughter is living with her father. I still have those sheets of paper. ‘William was all innocence, loved and respected,’ Christine wrote. ‘Twenty-seven times he was moved: I want answers.’ The director of Inquest, Deborah Coles, has advised the Allans and the family of Sheku Bayoh, who died after being restrained by police officers in Kirkcaldy (Gordon Brown’s old parliamentary seat) in 2015. ‘Scotland is a country that talks about its commitment to human rights,’ she told me. It does good messaging around immigration, and the 2012 Elish Angiolini report on female offenders led me to believe it was progressive. But I have come to see how the processes work here, and the reality of how families are treated. It’s been a shock to find out how bad the situation is. The inquiry was told that drugs are rife in Polmont, with spice, a synthetic cannabinoid, particularly problematic because it causes agitation and aggression. Jack had used drugs, including spice, and had been placed on a programme to manage substance abuse fourteen times in his seven months at Polmont, but had never been placed on TTM. The combination of the Covid pandemic and the drug programme meant that Jack was allowed out of his cell for as little as twenty minutes a day. The NHS has categorised all pregnancies in prison as ‘high-risk’ because of the nature of the custodial environment. In April 2024 a new mitigating factor was introduced to Sentencing Council guidelines regarding pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care. Yet pregnant women continue to be sent to prison, where they are seven times more likely to go through a stillbirth and almost twice as likely to have a premature birth. More by this contributorDani Garavelli10 October 2024 Newsletter Preferences This site requires the use of Javascript to provide the best possible experience Please change your browser settings to allow Javascript content to run The films will be shown in prisons and potentially high schools to increase awareness of issues including exploitation and grooming. Real-life stories have been turned into a series of hard-hitting films, which will be shown in secure accommodations, prisons and potentially high schools to increase awareness of issues including exploitation and grooming. Among the stories being told is Ryan’s, who is currently halfway through a custodial sentence at HMP & YOI Polmont. Aged 15, Ryan was “selling wee bits of drugs.” He then moved to shifting larger amounts, holding money and weapons. By 18, he was in prison. Ryan is among young men and women working with the Renfrewshire charity “I Am Me Scotland” to develop the new resource. He told STV News: “When you are young, you think you are on the top of the world. I have grown up a lot in prison. It changes you. “Jail is a horrible place to be. Maybe if someone in prison had spoken to me or shown me a film like this, it might have made me think twice about what I was getting into. “For me, after getting involved with gangs, I got mixed up with some dangerous people. I got robbed and I then owed them money. The situation got worse. Then it was too late.” Gangs and organised crime groups often use a practice known as debt bondage to force young people into carrying out their demands. It is just one of the tactics highlighted by the charity’s work. Real-life stories have been turned into seven short films to increase awareness of issues including child exploitation, county lines drug dealing, human trafficking and grooming. The resource may also be adapted for use in secondary schools. Carol Burt-Wilson from “I Am Me Scotland” said: “When we started off with the group in Polmont in March, we came with a blank piece of paper. “We have also been working with St Mary Kenmure and Good Shepherd secure units. The feedback from all involved has been exceptionally positive. “I think the fact it is real voices and real experiences, young people will be able to relate to the stories. Nothing is glamorised, and particularly with Ryan’s story, it does not glamorise prison. “Young people will see how hard it can be and the lack of choices it gives you. Hopefully, it will give them something to think about. “ It is the first time that groups in HMP & YOI Polmont have been involved in a project of this kind. The accompanying lesson plan will form part of the prison’s ongoing rehabilitation work. Topics covered across a variety of programmes range from understanding consent to addictions and domestic violence. Prison officer Tommy Steele leads the educational work at HMP & YOI Polmont, which now also houses adult women. Steele said: “We have a lot of boys who do not have a clue about some of the subjects we talk about because all they have been trying to do is survive on the street. “They believe to do that you have to be in the right gang, and you have got to get money whatever way you can. It is only when they come into a place like this, they see there is an alternative life. “We find most will gladly speak up during group work because no-one has actually asked them before ‘How are you feeling?’ In the past, authority has told them, whether it is education, police or judiciary, this is what is going to happen to you.” Michaela, who is in Polmont serving a short-term sentence, also helped with the film making process. The 30-year-old said: “If the film helps one person, then it has done its job. Hopefully, it will help a lot more. When I was young, all I had was a social worker reading out a book. “If I had watched something like this, I think I could have avoided some bad situations. “ Michaela was part of a group involved in writing a film called “Trapped,” which shines a light on human trafficking and different levels of exploitation. It tells the same story from two different perspectives: a young girl lured into drugs and crime as well as a male perpetrator. Michaela said: “When I first saw the finished video, I thought wow. I felt a real sense of pride when I saw my name up on the screen. I just hope the film helps other lassies and boys see red flags. “ “I did not know half of this stuff beforehand. I can see how easy it is for people to be reeled in. Everyone just wants to be a part of something. I think if you have never had that, you really believe those who are taking advantage of you are like family and deeply care about you. “ “I have been in and out of prison. This course has been good for me as it is the first time I have tried to deal with a lot of the stuff going on in my head. “ The charity and prison stress throughout the course the welfare of all taking part is paramount. Steele added: “We are very aware of when we talk about adverse childhood experiences that we could be opening a can of worms, so we tread very carefully. “We always talk to the boys afterwards to make sure they have not been traumatised by something we have spoken about. We also have a safety net with psychologists and specialist listeners. “ The first screening of Ryan’s story in Polmont was positively received by a group of his peers who openly shared their own experiences after watching a young actor recreate the events that led up to his conviction. Ryan hopes future showings will prompt similar discussions. He also has words of warning for any young person tempted to join a gang. “Just do not go down that road,” he said. “You are better sticking in at school and getting a decent job. “My first night in prison, I cried the whole time. I think a lot about what I have done to my family and ask myself why did I do it? “At times I feel like I have never really done anything good in my life. It has always been bad. Getting involved with this work helped me realise I can do something good.” Katie Allan and William Lindsay's deaths could have been avoided if precautions had been taken, fatal accident inquiry finds. took their own lives at Polmont YOI in 2018 Katie died while serving a sentence for a driving offence in June 2018 William died in October the same year two days after he was remanded at the facility Katie’s parents campaigned for five years for an fatal accident inquiry to be held Sheriff’s determination on Friday finds both William and Katie’s deaths were partly due to ‘systemic failures’ Systemic failures contributed to the preventable suicides of two people in Scotland’s young offender institution were found dead in their cells in separate incidents within months of each other at Polmont YOI near Falkirk in 2018 Their deaths “might realistically have been avoided” if reasonable precautions had been taken Sheriff Simon Collins KC said in his determination published on Friday He listed 25 recommendations that might realistically prevent other deaths in similar circumstances Sheriff Collins found there were multiple failures by prison and healthcare staff to properly identify record and share information relevant to Katie’s risk in accordance with the Scottish Prison Service’s Talk to Me (TTM) suicide prevention strategy he found Katie’s death was spontaneous and unpredictable even with the benefit of hindsight “She had suffered distress as a result of and during her imprisonment which had adversely affected her mental and emotional wellbeing but had appeared resilient in the face of it,” Sheriff Collins said “She was supported by her family and by prison and healthcare staff  She did not say or do anything to suggest that she was contemplating suicide “The evidence did not establish that Katie should have been assessed as being at risk of suicide prior to her death and placed on TTM.” Sheriff Collins found his death resulted from a catalogue of individual and collective failures by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and healthcare staff in Polmont “Almost all of those who interacted with him were at fault to some extent,” Sheriff Collins said Katie was a geography student at the University of Glasgow when she was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to drink driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving She had drunk four pints of cider before trying to drive home from a pub in Giffnock Katie pleaded guilty at Paisley Sheriff Court to causing serious injury by driving dangerously and driving at more than four times above the legal alcohol limit she was initially held at Cornton Vale and it was recorded in her medical notes she had previously self-harmed and suffered from alopecia and eczema A few days later she was transferred to Polmont where mental health nurse Alan MacFarlane wrote in a risk assessment she “presented well” on arrival and he had “no concern” about her “based on her current presentation” Katie was found dead in her cell at Polmont YOI on June 4 The fatal accident inquiry into her death heard she had been taunted and threatened by other inmates before taking her own life William took his own life 48 hours after being sent to Polmont on remand despite being flagged as a suicide risk He spent most of his life in the care system – being in and out of care at least 19 times since the age of three William walked into a police station with a knife the fatal accident inquiry heard in a statement of agreed evidence were found dead in their cells in separate incidents at the Polmont Young Offenders Institution in 2018 Despite a plea to bail him due to a lack of beds in a secure unit he was remanded to Polmont after being deemed a “potential risk to public safety” William was asked by a social worker if he was suicidal and replied: “No William had been taken to hospital due to suicide attempts and ideation excess drug use and fighting on 15 occasions in two years and was initially put on a 30-minute observation at Polmont when he arrived “for reassurance and safety” a case conference was held with a mental health nurse and two prison officers where William was assessed as “at no apparent risk of suicide” and was removed from 30-minute observations – but less than two hours later was referred to the mental health team by a social worker William was found dead in his cell at 7.40am on October 7 – nearly 12 hours after having last had contact with SPS staff at 8.55pm Sheriff Collins found William’s death resulted from a catalogue of individual and collective failures by SPS and healthcare staff in Polmont “Reasonable precautions would have been for the case conference to have kept William on TTM or in any event for him to have been reassessed and put back on TTM in the light of the further information later received by prison staff,” he said Sheriff Collins also said the system for actioning mental health referrals to the Forth Valley Health Board mental health team at Polmont was defective.He cited an incident in which an emailed referral by a social worker about William on October 5 was printed out and placed in a filing tray by an administrator but not acted upon by healthcare staff until October 8 Sheriff Collins recommended the SPS take steps to reduce the risk of suicide by removing harmful fixtures and fittings inside standard cells at Polmont He also said ministers should establish a system to ensure that all written information and documentation available to a court when a young person is sent to custody is passed to the SPS at the time of their admission the SPS should provide a dedicated 24-hour telephone number for families to report any concerns they have relevant to the suicide risk of a prisoner and put in place a system to ensure that such concerns are immediately acted upon and recorded The SPS is currently reviewing the TTM policy but the inquiry recommends that it be extensively revised Sheriff Collins stressed that greater emphasis should be placed on protecting young prisoners from suicide particularly in the early stages of custody. A more precautionary approach was required More than 100 prisoners in Scottish prisons have died by suicide since 2011 – ten of those have been young prisoners in Polmont The available evidence suggested that the rate of suicide by prisoners in Scotland may be one of the highest in Europe – and that it may be increasing – although the data is incomplete Justice secretary Angela Constance said she was deeply sorry for Katie and William’s deaths “They were in the care of the state and they should not have perished,” she told STV News “I’m also deeply cognisant of the journey these families have had to endure in terms of the process of finding answers “The commitment that I give as the cabinet secretary for justice is to take on each and every recommendation made by Sheriff Collins and give a full response to parliament but also acknowledge and accept the findings of this sheriff – that the deaths of these two young people could have been prevented “Our system let these two young people and their families down It is now my job to turn what the sheriff describes as systemic failures into systemic improvements An SPS spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay and we would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere condolences and apologies for the failures identified in this report “We are committed to doing everything we can to support people and keep them safe during the most challenging and vulnerable periods of their lives “We are grateful to Sheriff Collins for his recommendations which we will now carefully consider before responding further.” Help and support is available now if you need it Jordan RobertsonPublished: Invalid Date A JOINT Fatal Accident Inquiry last week revealed that two vulnerable young prisoners killed themselves in Polmont despite being known suicide risks The damning report found that Katie Allan took their own lives in what the families’ lawyer Aamer Anwar dubbed "dungeons of despair." Sheriff Simon Collins hit out at how they were cared for at the young offenders institution Glasgow Uni student Katie died in June 2018 while serving a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury to a pedestrian While William ended his life four months later after he'd already tried to commit suicide multiple times Yet he was removed from regular observations by staff after just one night - just as Katie's cries for help were also ignored in a litany of errors The musician, who was later sent to Barlinnie, recalls fellow prisoners killing themselves and isn't surprised at the report's findings. Today he writes for the Scottish Sun about the issues facing young offenders. The prison system as a whole is very flawed. If you go to a nurse or a medical professional in the jail context and you talk about feeling suicidal or feeling depressed, for whatever reason, you normally get flung into a suicide watch cell.  They call it observation and they put you in this cell with blue mattresses like the type you get in PE at school The telly's built into the wall and it's supposed to be safe so you don't harm yourself But if somebody's got these kind of emotions the screws don't always carry out the checks as often as they should When I was in Polmont I remember there was a young guy but you could tell he was just a bit out of place One of his pals had ended up fighting during dinner and he tried to split it up Everybody started laughing at him because usually in that environment it's expected that you go in and react with violence His cell was next door to me and the next morning my door flew open and one of the screws stepped in my room and stared at me It turned out the boy had hung himself but they couldn't have surmised when it happened They're meant to do checks to make sure everybody's alright and they never carried out the checks that night Sometimes they would come around and check through at night But it just depended who was on shift I think There was a guy down the stairs who killed himself on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day You look at the family of the person who has gone to jail they're trying to cope and suddenly get the news that they're never going to see them again That was quite a hard-hitting thing for me but I don't think any victim would really want anybody to go into jail and not finish the sentence they were given so you kind of end up in a place where the outside world stopped it kind of snapped you out of the delusion you were in and suddenly you were conscious of the outside world and the ramifications of letting somebody do that to themselves I never really experienced empathy until later in my life but that was probably one of the first hallmarks I had of it The screws were hit or miss in Polmont in terms of how you would get ones that would do checks but then you had other ones that just didn't really care I'd say the ones that were more concerned about your welfare probably bordered on the minority If you're a prison officer and a prisoner tells you they're suicidal they refer you to the mental health team and it's somebody else's problem It's like an emotional mental microwave because you're trapped with your own thoughts and you're just locked in this room with that stress and trauma I don't have a perfect strategy to revamp the full prison system but I know it could be a massive contributor to help reduce offending and rehabilitate people by looking at underlying trauma because if you're just going to lock people up and throw away the key then you need to be prepared for the consequences that come nobody was listening and they've paid the ultimate price They always seem to say in retrospect they should have listened How many other people are in this position we should have two contributing members of society instead of two tragic deaths Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here John Reilly says he still has many questions following a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of his brother and another vulnerable young person. two days after he was remanded at the facility Sheriff’s determination found both William and Katie’s deaths were partly due to ‘systemic failures’ The brother of a vulnerable teenager who took his own life at Scotland’s young offender institution says the facility isn’t fit for purpose John Reilly believes a lack of funding contributed to William Lindsay’s death in 2018 and said his family still have many questions after the findings of a fatal accident inquiry were published on Friday He was speaking at a news conference shortly after a sheriff released his determination into the deaths of William and 21-year-old Katie Allan They were found dead in their cells in separate incidents within months of each other at Polmont YOI near Falkirk in 2018 Lunchtime News: Jan 17 ‘My baby brother was terrified in Polmont cell’. #scotland #news #stvnews Mr Riley said during a meeting with the Crown Office prior to the inquiry that it seemed as though Polmont “couldn’t afford to keep William alive”. “It’s funding, which is a horrible and distressful insight into how things could be inside that institution,” he said. When asked whether Polmont should be shut down, Mr Reilly said it was not fit for purpose and didn’t think the “recommendations are enough” to protect at-risk prisoners. Why could this ever be allowed to happen to a child? He was my baby brother; he was just a terrified little boy. “There are those who should be in prison for William’s death, yet they have never suffered any consequences, and it is time the law was changed,” he said. William and Katie’s deaths “might realistically have been avoided” if reasonable precautions had been taken, Sheriff Simon Collins KC said in his determination published on Friday. He also said systemic failures contributed to their suicides and listed 25 recommendations that might realistically prevent other deaths in similar circumstances. Katie’s mum, Linda Allan, said her daughter was “brutalised” before her death at Polmont. Katie was brutalised in Polmont, so much so that she lost all hope and saw only one solution – her death. “She did not ‘thrive’ as claimed by a witness at her FAI – she was bullied, she was petrified, she was lost,” she said. “She lost her hair and was taunted, her mental health suffered, and one nurse couldn’t even be bothered recording accurate records on their antiquated systems.” Mrs Allan said the FAI system was broken, adding that families are overwhelmingly denied legal representation due to means-tested legal aid. “The prison service literally gets away with creating the circumstances by which people die prematurely, no sanctions exist, they cannot be criminally prosecuted,” she said. Mrs Allan also said more people would lose their lives unless things changed within the system. Deborah Coles, director of the non-government organisation INQUEST, which works with families after deaths in custody, said the inquiry found failings in the “basic processes that are supposed to be in place” to protect at-risk prisoners. She said the report was a “damning indictment not just of Polmont prison but of the Scottish Prison Service, ministers, and those who monitor and inspect prisons”. “The serious systemic failures identified were there before Katie and William died and continue to this day as shown by the ongoing death toll. The report is a damming indictment not just of Polmont prison but of the Scottish Prison Service, ministers and those who monitor and inspect prisons to make sure they are safe. “Those in power seem to forget that people inside are human beings to whom the state owes a duty of care. The report lays bare the harrowing reality of William and Katie’s suffering.” Solicitor Aamer Anwar said the system had failed the “most vulnerable people in our society” and ignored cries for help. He said: “There was nothing inevitable about William and Katie taking their own lives, it was clear to anybody that cared to look, that they were vulnerable and at risk of taking their own lives. “Locking people up in dungeons of despair doesn’t rehabilitate anyone. It institutionalises violence and increases the risk of suicide.” We do not have the death penalty in the UK, but for Katie and William, and for so many before and so many after that is exactly what the prison sentence meant “We do not have the death penalty in the UK, but for Katie and William, and for so many before and so many after that is exactly what the prison sentence meant”. In Katie’s case, Sheriff Collins found there were multiple failures by prison and healthcare staff to properly identify, record and share information relevant to Katie’s risk in accordance with the Scottish Prison Service’s Talk to Me (TTM) suicide prevention strategy. However, he found Katie’s death was spontaneous and unpredictable, even with the benefit of hindsight. In William’s case, Sheriff Collins found his death resulted from a catalogue of individual and collective failures by the Scottish Prison Service and healthcare staff in Polmont. Katie was a geography student at the University of Glasgow when she was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to drink driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. She had drunk four pints of cider before trying to drive home from a pub in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, in August 2017. Katie pleaded guilty at Paisley Sheriff Court to causing serious injury by driving dangerously and driving at more than four times above the legal alcohol limit. After her sentencing, she was initially held at Cornton Vale and it was recorded in her medical notes she had previously self-harmed and suffered from alopecia and eczema. A few days later she was transferred to Polmont, where mental health nurse Alan MacFarlane wrote in a risk assessment she “presented well” on arrival and he had “no concern” about her “based on her current presentation”. Katie was found dead in her cell at Polmont YOI on June 4, 2018. The fatal accident inquiry into her death heard she had been taunted and threatened by other inmates before taking her own life. William took his own life 48 hours after being sent to Polmont on remand despite being flagged as a suicide risk. He spent most of his life in the care system – being in and out of care at least 19 times since the age of three. On October 3, 2018, William walked into a police station with a knife, while on bail for another blade offence, the fatal accident inquiry heard in a statement of agreed evidence. Despite a plea to bail him due to a lack of beds in a secure unit, he was remanded to Polmont after being deemed a “potential risk to public safety”. Before he was taken there, William was asked by a social worker if he was suicidal and replied: “No, not now, but I don’t know how I’ll be in prison.” Since 2016, William had been taken to hospital due to suicide attempts and ideation, excess drug use and fighting on 15 occasions in two years, and was initially put on a 30-minute observation at Polmont when he arrived “for reassurance and safety”. On October 5, 2018, a case conference was held with a mental health nurse and two prison officers, where William was assessed as “at no apparent risk of suicide” and was removed from 30-minute observations – but less than two hours later was referred to the mental health team by a social worker. William was found dead in his cell at 7.40am on October 7 – nearly 12 hours after having last had contact with SPS staff at 8.55pm. Sheriff Collins found William’s death resulted from a catalogue of individual and collective failures by SPS and healthcare staff in Polmont. “Reasonable precautions would have been for the case conference to have kept William on TTM, or in any event for him to have been reassessed and put back on TTM in the light of the further information later received by prison staff,” he said. Sheriff Collins also said the system for actioning mental health referrals to the Forth Valley Health Board mental health team at Polmont was defective. He cited an incident in which an emailed referral by a social worker about William on October 5 was printed out and placed in a filing tray by an administrator but not acted upon by healthcare staff until October 8, by which time William was dead. Sheriff Collins recommended the SPS take steps to reduce the risk of suicide by removing harmful fixtures and fittings inside standard cells at Polmont. He also said ministers should establish a system to ensure that all written information and documentation available to a court when a young person is sent to custody is passed to the SPS at the time of their admission. Furthermore, the SPS should provide a dedicated 24-hour telephone number for families to report any concerns they have relevant to the suicide risk of a prisoner and put in place a system to ensure that such concerns are immediately acted upon and recorded. The SPS is currently reviewing the TTM policy, but the inquiry recommends that it be extensively revised. Sheriff Collins stressed that greater emphasis should be placed on protecting young prisoners from suicide, particularly in the early stages of custody. A more precautionary approach was required. More than 100 prisoners in Scottish prisons have died by suicide since 2011 – ten of those have been young prisoners in Polmont. The available evidence suggested that the rate of suicide by prisoners in Scotland may be one of the highest in Europe – and that it may be increasing – although the data is incomplete. Justice secretary Angela Constance said she was deeply sorry for Katie and William’s deaths. “They were in the care of the state and they should not have perished,” she told STV News. “I’m also deeply cognisant of the journey these families have had to endure in terms of the process of finding answers. “The commitment that I give as the cabinet secretary for justice is to take on each and every recommendation made by Sheriff Collins and give a full response to parliament, but also acknowledge and accept the findings, the determination, of this sheriff – that the deaths of these two young people could have been prevented. “Our system let these two young people and their families down. It is now my job to turn what the sheriff describes as systemic failures into systemic improvements. An SPS spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay. “We are committed to doing everything we can to support people and keep them safe during one of the most challenging and vulnerable periods of their life. “We are grateful to Sheriff Collins for his recommendations, which we will now carefully consider before responding further.” The Scottish Government and Scottish Prison Service has been contacted for comment. Help and support is available now if you need it. The Samaritans can be contacted any time, from any phone, free on 116 123, email at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Details of other services and more information can be found on the NHS website here. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Scotland’s Justice Secretary has promised there will be “lasting change” following the deaths of two young people who took their own lives while in custody The families of Katie Allan 16 – who died within months of each other at Polmont Young Offenders Institution – were watching in Holyrood’s public gallery as Angela Constance said she expects work to be “delivered at pace” following a fatal accident inquiry into their deaths The Scottish Government has already accepted in full the findings and recommendations of the inquiry Ms Constance met the families of Ms Allan and William – who was also known as William Lindsay – prior to the statement and expressed again her “deepest condolences” to them and to “all those affected by a death in custody” The Justice Secretary added: “It is through ongoing and decisive action that we will create the lasting change they rightly demand and deserve.” 2018 while serving a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury who had made repeated attempts on his life in 2017 three days after he was remanded at Polmont due to a lack of space in a children’s unit Prior to meeting Ms Constance on Thursday, Ms Allan’s parents, Linda and Stuart, had insisted “now is the time” for action to make Scottish prisons safer. Mr Allan said: “We’re fed up with sorrys and apologies etc for the deaths of Katie and William. “Now is the time we actually want to see some action.” In her statement to Holyrood, Ms Constance said the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) – which runs Polmont – has established a taskforce to ensure all the recommendations from the FAI are acted upon. Adding that substantial progress has already been made, the minister said she had visited Polmont last week and said the SPS had removed bunk beds from rooms which might be used for young people – with governors at other institutions where young people are locked up also told to follow suit. In addition, two expert professors, who have both previously held senior roles at the Ministry of Justice, have been appointed as part of efforts by the SPS to “overhaul” its suicide prevention strategy. Professor Graham Towl – who was an expert witness at the FAI – and Professor David Crighton are to carry out this work. Ms Constance said: “This work represents a commitment to real, lasting change and their initial work will be completed by the end of the summer.” She told MSPs the SPS had accepted its current anti-bullying policy “has not been effective”, with a new strategy to be developed this year. She also said the Scottish Government is leading work to ensure a “consistent transfer of relevant information” takes place between the courts and prisons when someone is put into custody – adding it was “unacceptable” that information the courts had about William was not shared with the SPS. With ministers having previously committed to an independent review of the FAI system which will look at the effectiveness of investigations into deaths in custody, Ms Constance added “good progress” has been made towards developing a draft remit and that a chair for the review should be announced “shortly”. She also said she will act to ensure close family members of those who die in custody can get legal aid for FAIs. She said this will “ultimately” require new legislation, but she does “not want families to wait for this important support” and so will use ministerial powers to ensure this is in place from Monday April 7. Mrs Allan had earlier called for an “overhaul” of the SPS suicide prevention programme Talk to Me, claiming it had made suicide rates rise instead of fall. “It’s not worth the paper it’s written on and requires an overhaul by experts,” she said. Lawyer Aamer Anwar, who is representing both families, repeated his earlier calls for the SPS to be made more accountable for the deaths through a lifting of Crown immunity that means the service cannot be prosecuted. “The SPS is guilty of gaslighting these families, of lying to them, of covering up,” he said. “They are guilty of corporate homicide, they are guilty of a breach of the health and safety regulation.” SPS chief executive Teresa Medhurst has already said the organisation is “sincerely sorry” for the deaths, apologising for the SPS’s “failings”. She added: “We recognise that their families want action, not words, and we are determined and committed to move at pace and that the actions we are setting out will be enduring and save many lives in the future.” separately took their own lives at the facility in 2018 Two young people who died by suicide at Polmont were handed a “death sentence” after an inquiry found they might still be alive if not for a “catalogue of failures” Katie Allan, a 21-year-old Glasgow University student, and William Brown, a 16-year-old also known as William Lindsay, who had repeatedly been in care, died within months of each other while imprisoned at the young offenders institution in 2018 Ms Allan was found dead in her cell on 4 June while serving a 16-month term for drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving Mr Brown was found dead in his cell on 7 October three days after being admitted as there was no space in a children’s secure unit A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into their deaths was held at Falkirk Sheriff Court last year and has now concluded with Sheriff SG Collins KC ruling in his determination on Friday that both deaths could have been avoided Warning of a “catalogue of individual and collective failures by prison and healthcare staff” at the facility in his 400-page ruling Sheriff Collins made 25 recommendations which he said “might realistically prevent other deaths in similar circumstances” Describing the determination as “the most robust and devastating indictment on Scottish Prisons in over a century” urged prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to change the law on crown immunity health officials and Holyrood ministers of being “complicit in the deaths that continue to take place” Mr Anwar said: “We do not have a death sentence in this country “lied and conducted a whitewash” and “gaslighted the families” He alleged that some of those involved “should be facing criminal prosecution” described what happened as a “complete systemic failure among the prison service” She said: “Katie was brutalised in Polmont so much so that she lost all hope and saw only one solution – her death.” said he blamed “everyone who came into contact with William” for his sibling’s death One of the main concerns raised by Sheriff Collins was the effectiveness of the Talk To Me (TTM) suicide prevention strategy through which at-risk prisoners are subjected to increased observation and checks While Ms Allan had not been considered a “risk” when she was admitted to Polmont and was therefore not placed on TTM the sheriff said there had been a “systemic failure” by prison staff to complete forms during her incarceration that could have triggered the TTM process He pointed to a number of incidents recorded by prison staff that should have been red flags including the fact Ms Allan was being bullied by other prisoners distress caused by hair loss resulting from alopecia and the failure of her appeal against her conviction Her weight also dropped from 65kg to 58kg during her 12 weeks at the facility which Sheriff Collins said should have been a “cause for concern” by staff Mr Brown was placed on TTM on admission to Polmont only to be removed from it the next morning despite presenting as a “very high risk” individual He was also not placed back on TTM when “further information” about his level of risk was provided to prison staff by a social worker later that day Sheriff Collins said: “Had Katie been put on TTM on the night of June 3-4 and had William not been removed from it prior to the night of October 6-7 there was a realistic possibility that their deaths might have been avoided.” The sheriff also criticised the “defective” systems for sharing information between the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and other bodies and found issues with the way risk assessment information was recorded on prison systems readily accessible source of all the information relevant to Katie’s risk of suicide which was available to SPS staff in Polmont.” The deaths could have been prevented if “reasonable precautions” had been taken around the safety of cells including the carrying out of regular checks to identify potential risks which he said would “restrict” the level of risk to inmate safety Sheriff Collins said: “In common with all the participants in the inquiry I offer my condolences to the families of Katie and William “I would wish to particularly acknowledge the contributions of Linda and Stuart Allan at least one of whom attended every day of the inquiry and whose dignity and courage were evident throughout.” Scotland’s justice secretary Angela Constance said: “My deepest sympathies and condolences are with the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay “I am deeply sorry about their deaths and that their families have had to wait so long for the conclusion of this process I fully appreciate that this has been an arduous process and will have compounded the trauma and distress of the families “Deaths from suicide in custody are as tragic as they are preventable and the deaths of these two young people should not have happened whilst they were in the care of the state.” The sheriff’s report noted that more than 100 prisoners in Scottish prisons have died by suicide since 2011 Most were not subject to suicide prevention measures at the time which pointed to evidence suggesting that the rate of suicide by prisoners in Scotland may be one of the highest in Europe – and may be increasing – although the data is incomplete said: “I would again wish to acknowledge the deep anguish that the deaths of Katie and William have brought to their families and appreciate that the wait for these proceedings has been too long the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has introduced reforms designed to reduce the time it takes to investigate deaths improve the quality of such investigations and improve communication with bereaved families a specialist custody deaths investigation team has been set up to focus on cases such as those of Katie and William “There is much more that can be done across the whole of the justice system to improve how deaths in custody are investigated and the Crown is committed to contributing to that.” confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day William Brown, 16, and Katie Allan, 21, died within months of each other at Polmont Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16, also known as William Lindsay, died in their cells in 2018 within months of each other. Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16, also known as William Lindsay, died in their cells at Polmont Young Offenders Institution (YOI) in 2018 within months of each other. Glasgow University student Ms Allan was found dead on June 4 while serving a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Mr Brown, who had made repeated attempts on his life in 2017 which were detailed in reports provided on his admission to Polmont, was found dead in his cell on October 7 – three days after he was remanded due to a lack space in a children’s secure unit. A sheriff found there were reasonable precautions by which both deaths might realistically have been avoided, and that systemic failures contributed to them, in his determination last week following a fatal accident inquiry into their deaths. On Wednesday, the families’ solicitor Aamer Anwar announced they will meet with First Minister John Swinney and Justice Secretary Angela Constance on Thursday. Ms Constance is expected to make a statement in Holyrood after the meeting where she will outline the steps taken to improve conditions in Scottish prisons. A statement by Mr Anwar, on behalf of Ms Allan’s parents Linda and Stuart, and John Reilly, brother of Mr Brown, said: “Katie Allan was 21 years old when she was found in her cell at Polmont YOI, on June 4 2018, after taking her own life. Katie was a geography student at the University of Glasgow, who was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving and causing serious injury. “Katie had a mere number of days left to serve before being eligible for release, however was unable to cope with the stress, bullying and suffering she endured during her time at Polmont, and tragically ended her life. “William Lindsay was only 16 when he was admitted to Polmont YOI and had spent only 72 hours there on remand before he was found dead in his cell on the October 7, 2018. “William was an obvious high suicide risk, yet despite a known history of several suicide attempts and being in and out of care since the age of three, the absence of a space in a children’s secure unit meant he was remanded to Polmont. The desperate cries of a child went unheard, and on October 7, 2018 William’s body was found in his cell, after he had taken his own life. “The families are to meet with the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs tomorrow, January 23, at 11am in the Scottish Parliament. “Following this meeting, the Cabinet Secretary intends to make a statement to Parliament to update on the measures taken since the deaths of Katie and William and set out the Government’s commitment to make further improvements.” At a press conference last week, Mr Anwar said the two youths were given a “death sentence” and some of those involved “should be facing criminal prosecution”. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister and Justice Secretary have invited the families to meet with them ahead of the Justice Secretary providing a statement to Parliament, and we are pleased they have accepted.” The Scottish Prison Service has apologised to the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay who took their own lives in Polmont Young Offenders’ Institute and committed to preventing further suicides died within months of each other in 2018 at Polmont YOI was found dead on June 4 while serving a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury who had made repeated attempts on his life in 2017 – detailed in reports provided on his admission was found dead in his cell on October 7 – three days after he was remanded due to a lack space in a children’s unit A fatal accident inquiry was held last year at Falkirk Sheriff Court and recommendations were made by Sheriff Simon Collins on January 17 SPS issued a statement saying it was committed to “enhanced support to the most vulnerable young people at one of the most challenging times of their lives” and launching an anti-bullying strategy promising a “robust suicide prevention scheme” It said all bunk beds had been removed from cells used by prisoners aged 18 to 21 and it is overhauling the Talk To Me suicide prevention scheme so prisoners are subject to it “for a minimum of 72 hours after admission and not removed until after a case conference” SPS said it would “institute a policy of regular ongoing cell audit” using a toolkit to risk assess for suicides and any fixtures would be “actioned as a priority to remove or reduce risks as soon as practicable” It committed to trying “suicide prevention technology in Polmont” and a review of items prisoners are permitted to purchase and receive due at the end of 2025 Rip-resistant bedding was recommended with SPS pledging to “consider how best to balance safety with the needs and wellbeing” of prisoners Scottish ministers are launching a working group “determining the best way to ensure the timely and secure transfer of information from court to SPS” SPS also said it was “committed to developing and implementing a secure electronic portal whereby social work medical staff and third sector organisations can provide information relevant to a prisoner’s suicide risk” However in a statement from solicitor Aamer Anwar on behalf of Ms Allan’s parents Linda and Stuart Allan and brother Scott Allan the apology was branded “too little too late” senior management at Polmont and the Forth Valley Heath Board” and said they “ignored cries for help” claiming “some should be facing criminal prosecution” Mr Anwar said: “The Government has accepted in full all the recommendations. The families are grateful to the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Justice Angela Constance for acting with such speed and compassion.” He added: “The lack of accountability across SPS has led to Scotland having one of the highest avoidable mortality rates in custody that will only continue if the UK Government does not take away crown immunity from our public prisons steps must be taken now to implement the transfer of all information to the prison estate “The developing of a secure electronic portal sometime in 2026 is too little and could be dangerously late all information held must be shared by all agencies to ensure a duty of care for each young person incarcerated.” Mr Anwar said: “The question for the families is if the SPS now accept that suicide was not inevitable and they are culpable will they finally instruct a suicidologist as requested by Linda Allan.” said: “We are sincerely sorry and we apologise for the deaths of Katie and William and our failings “We recognise that their families want action and we are determined and committed to move at pace and that the actions we are setting out will be enduring and save many lives in the future “SPS has a duty of care to vulnerable young people in custody including in moments of crisis in their lives This response today sets out how we meet those recommendations but also look at all ways in which we can go beyond them “Our staff work hard to build positive relationships with people in custody every day particularly those who might be vulnerable This set of actions will provide the tools and training to support them in their important work.” Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay “The Scottish Government has fully accepted the findings that their deaths were preventable and is committed to addressing the systemic failures identified. “All recommendations from the inquiry have been accepted, and SPS are taking forward the urgent operational changes to implement those in full. “As part of the broader measures, I have initiated an independent review of the FAI system to look at the efficiency, effectiveness and trauma informed nature of investigations. “Progress is being made to make Legal Aid free for bereaved families participating in deaths in custody FAIs.” NHS Forth Valley has been contacted for comment. Listen to this article The head of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has apologised to the families of two young people who took their own lives the equivalent of an Inquest in England and Wales found that the two deaths could have been prevented Ms Medhurst says she is committed to systemic change and indeed no children in Scotland will be sent to such institutions in future The inquiry found that the deaths could have been avoided and listed 25 instances of such mistakes which it found contributed to the two young people losing their lives The presiding Sheriff described it as a “catalogue of errors” In particular he noted that additional support is required within the first 72 hours of incarceration He also noted that the cell in which Ms Allan had died had a “safety issue long known to the Scottish Prison Service” William should have been in a secure school but there were no available places at the time of his arrest and remand He had a history of suicide attempts and should have been under 24-hour supervision The SPS said all potential ligature points are being removed from cells in places where young people It said it was increasing mental health support and “training staff to identify and respond to at risk and foster an environment where individuals can feel heard asked why it had taken seven years for the SPS to remove the ligature points and double bunks from the cells He said: “The lack of accountability across the SPS has led to Scotland having one of the highest avoidable mortality rates in prison custody that will continue until the UK Government takes away Crown immunity from public prisons.” there is deep regret at suicide but no urge to allot blame to others I humbly think that whatever these tragic youths had set their minds on was likely to prevail against even the best acted-out intentions of others can you force happiness upon someone in a prison there is someone to blame.” That immediate sarisfaction and website in this browser for the next time I comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Advertise your business here to out highly defined target audience The votes have been counted and verified … and 22 projects have secured up to £5000 each through Community Choices!  More than 6100 valid votes were cast across all nine council wards during the month of February helping 22 of the 57 community groups in the public vote secure their share of just over £100,000. Now in its fifth phase Community Choices is a participatory budgeting programme delivered by Falkirk Council giving local people a democratic way to have a direct say in how public money is invested in community-led projects more than £3.4m has been allocated through Community Choices helping community groups across the Council area deliver 160 projects that have made a real difference in their communities.  This year saw groups pull out all the stops to encourage their communities to get behind them and vote – from full-on PR campaigns social media reels to good old-fashioned word of mouth.  This round of Community Choices has shown just how creative and committed local groups are From big social media pushes to personal conversations in the community the effort to encourage people to vote has been nothing short of inspiring I want to thank every group that applied and every person who took the time to vote - this programme continues to prove that when communities lead A dilapidated discount furniture store in Falkirk once a place to buy sofas and dining tables is being transformed into something even more meaningful - a space where young people can grow in confidence Go Youth Trust is creating a Youth Hub and Skills Academy in the town centre providing over 800 young people from Falkirk and access mentoring and employability support Thanks to a £4848 Community Choices grant they’ll also be able to enjoy something just as important - hot The funding will enable Go Youth Trust to install a much-needed kitchen For many of the young people the Trust supports and mental health challenges are daily realities Learning to cook and share meals isn’t just about nourishment - it’s about confidence Food plays a vital role in bringing young people together creating a relaxed and inclusive space for connection "Sharing a meal fosters a sense of belonging and encourages engagement in youth work activities making it a powerful tool for relationship-building and personal growth “We want to thank everyone who voted for our project your support will help make a lasting impact in the lives of so many young people It’s something many of us take for granted but for others it’s an activity they’re no longer able to do themselves – trimming their toenails From physical limitations that make it difficult to bend down or handle clippers safely what once seemed a simple task can become almost impossible making walking difficult and increasing the risk of falls It can even stop some from going out altogether Polmont Community Hub has teamed up with Braveheart’s Top Toes Foot Clinic to offer accessible footcare right in the heart of Polmont.  The two organisations are working together to recruit and support volunteers with Braveheart providing training and the Hub offering a space that will soon be transformed thanks to a £4980 Community Choices grant The grant will allow the Hub to redecorate an underused changing room in the former Greenpark Community Centre and install new lighting dedicated clinic where people can access the footcare that they need the transformed changing room will remain a flexible space for the wider community to use - from dancers in their 90s to baby and toddler music groups from across the Braes area and beyond!  a volunteer working closely with the project We all know how important it is to stay active as we get older but when something as small as overgrown toenails starts to cause pain and mobility problems Personal experience with a family member has shown me the importance of regular contact with someone who understands about footcare “The clinic means people won’t have to wait months to be seen by the NHS or pay for private care as they'll have access to a safe It also means they are monitored and not left unchecked or without guidance should there be changes “We are very grateful to everyone who voted for our project Your votes will help us turn an underused space into something that will make a genuine difference in people’s lives News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice Scotland’s Justice Secretary has promised there will be “lasting change” following the deaths of two young people who took their own lives while in custody MSPs weep in Holyrood chamber as tributes paid to minister Christina McKelvie Eradicating child poverty ‘more challenging’ after spring statement – Swinney say family of young woman who died in Polmont YOI Prior to meeting Ms Constance on Thursday, Ms Allan’s parents, Linda and Stuart, had insisted “now is the time” for action to make Scottish prisons safer Mr Allan said: “We’re fed up with sorrys and apologies etc for the deaths of Katie and William In her statement to Holyrood, Ms Constance said the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) – which runs Polmont – has established a taskforce to ensure all the recommendations from the FAI are acted upon Adding that substantial progress has already been made the minister said she had visited Polmont last week and said the SPS had removed bunk beds from rooms which might be used for young people – with governors at other institutions where young people are locked up also told to follow suit who have both previously held senior roles at the Ministry of Justice have been appointed as part of efforts by the SPS to “overhaul” its suicide prevention strategy Professor Graham Towl – who was an expert witness at the FAI – and Professor David Crighton are to carry out this work Ms Constance said: “This work represents a commitment to real lasting change and their initial work will be completed by the end of the summer.” She told MSPs the SPS had accepted its current anti-bullying policy “has not been effective” with a new strategy to be developed this year She also said the Scottish Government is leading work to ensure a “consistent transfer of relevant information” takes place between the courts and prisons when someone is put into custody – adding it was “unacceptable” that information the courts had about William was not shared with the SPS With ministers having previously committed to an independent review of the FAI system which will look at the effectiveness of investigations into deaths in custody Ms Constance added “good progress” has been made towards developing a draft remit and that a chair for the review should be announced “shortly” She also said she will act to ensure close family members of those who die in custody can get legal aid for FAIs She said this will “ultimately” require new legislation but she does “not want families to wait for this important support” and so will use ministerial powers to ensure this is in place from Monday April 7 Mrs Allan had earlier called for an “overhaul” of the SPS suicide prevention programme Talk to Me claiming it had made suicide rates rise instead of fall “It’s not worth the paper it’s written on and requires an overhaul by experts,” she said repeated his earlier calls for the SPS to be made more accountable for the deaths through a lifting of Crown immunity that means the service cannot be prosecuted “The SPS is guilty of gaslighting these families they are guilty of a breach of the health and safety regulation.” SPS chief executive Teresa Medhurst has already said the organisation is “sincerely sorry” for the deaths She added: “We recognise that their families want action and we are determined and committed to move at pace and that the actions we are setting out will be enduring and save many lives in the future.” VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Home   News   National   Article The Scottish Prison Service has apologised to the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay, who took their own lives in Polmont Young Offenders’ Institute, and committed to preventing further suicides. Katie Allan, 21, and William Lindsay, 16, died within months of each other in 2018 at Polmont YOI, run by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). Ms Allan, a student at Glasgow University, was found dead on June 4 while serving a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury. Mr Brown, who had made repeated attempts on his life in 2017 – detailed in reports provided on his admission, was found dead in his cell on October 7 – three days after he was remanded due to a lack space in a children’s unit. A fatal accident inquiry was held last year at Falkirk Sheriff Court and recommendations were made by Sheriff Simon Collins on January 17. SPS issued a statement saying it was committed to “enhanced support to the most vulnerable young people at one of the most challenging times of their lives” and launching an anti-bullying strategy, promising a “robust suicide prevention scheme”. It said all bunk beds had been removed from cells used by prisoners aged 18 to 21, and it is overhauling the Talk To Me suicide prevention scheme so prisoners are subject to it “for a minimum of 72 hours after admission and not removed until after a case conference”, with a review due to finish this year, and a new policy in 2026. SPS said it would “institute a policy of regular ongoing cell audit” using a toolkit to risk assess for suicides, and any fixtures would be “actioned as a priority to remove or reduce risks as soon as practicable”. It committed to trying “suicide prevention technology in Polmont”, with a report due by January 2026, and a review of items prisoners are permitted to purchase and receive due at the end of 2025. Rip-resistant bedding was recommended with SPS pledging to “consider how best to balance safety with the needs and wellbeing” of prisoners. Scottish ministers are launching a working group “determining the best way to ensure the timely and secure transfer of information from court to SPS”. SPS also said it was “committed to developing and implementing a secure electronic portal whereby social work, medical staff and third sector organisations can provide information relevant to a prisoner’s suicide risk”. However in a statement from solicitor Aamer Anwar on behalf of Ms Allan’s parents Linda and Stuart Allan and brother Scott Allan, and Mr Lindsay’s brother John Reilly, the apology was branded “too little too late”. It blamed “SPS, former prison governors, senior management at Polmont and the Forth Valley Heath Board” and said they “ignored cries for help”, claiming “some should be facing criminal prosecution”. Mr Anwar said: “The Government has accepted in full all the recommendations. The families are grateful to the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Justice Angela Constance for acting with such speed and compassion.” He added: “The lack of accountability across SPS has led to Scotland having one of the highest avoidable mortality rates in custody, that will only continue if the UK Government does not take away crown immunity from our public prisons. “Nearly seven years on, steps must be taken now to implement the transfer of all information to the prison estate, immediately on admission. “The developing of a secure electronic portal sometime in 2026 is too little and could be dangerously late. “Of course, all information held must be shared by all agencies to ensure a duty of care for each young person incarcerated.” Mr Anwar said: “The question for the families is, if the SPS now accept that suicide was not inevitable and they are culpable, will they finally instruct a suicidologist as requested by Linda Allan.” Teresa Medhurst, SPS chief executive, said: “We are sincerely sorry and we apologise for the deaths of Katie and William and our failings. “We recognise that their families want action, not words, and we are determined and committed to move at pace and that the actions we are setting out will be enduring and save many lives in the future. “SPS has a duty of care to vulnerable young people in custody, including in moments of crisis in their lives. This response today sets out how we meet those recommendations but also look at all ways in which we can go beyond them. “Our staff work hard to build positive relationships with people in custody every day, particularly those who might be vulnerable. This set of actions will provide the tools and training to support them in their important work.” Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay. “The Scottish Government has fully accepted the findings that their deaths were preventable and is committed to addressing the systemic failures identified. The parents of a young woman who took her own life in Polmont Young Offenders Institution have said they are “fed up” of apologies, ahead of a meeting at Holyrood with Justice Secretary Angela Constance Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16, died within months of each other in 2018 at Polmont, which is run by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) William – also known as William Lindsay – who had made repeated attempts on his life in 2017 which were detailed in reports provided on his admission three days after he was remanded due to a lack of space in a children’s unit A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) was held last year at Falkirk Sheriff Court into their deaths and 25 recommendations were made by Sheriff Simon Collins Members of both families and their lawyer Aamer Anwar are meeting Ms Constance on Thursday having last met her following publication of the FAI findings in January They will then take their seats in the public gallery as she delivers a ministerial statement to Parliament on the response of the Government and SPS to the sheriff’s recommendations. Speaking at a short press conference ahead of the meeting, Ms Allan’s parents Linda and Stuart said “now is the time” for action to make Scottish prisons safer. Mr Allan said: “In January we got some hope at the end of the FAI, and obviously the statements that Angela Constance made in Parliament. “We’re fed up with sorrys and apologies etc for the deaths of Katie and William. “Now is the time we actually want to see some action. So we’re interested today to see what progress has been made and to make sure that there are mechanisms in place to make sure this doesn’t happen.” Mrs Allan called in particular for an “overhaul” of the SPS Talk to Me (TTM) suicide prevention programme, saying it had made suicide rates rise instead of fall. “The TTM strategy has actually increased suicides across the Scottish prison estate rather than reduced them,” she said. “It’s not worth the paper it’s written on and requires an overhaul by experts. “It’s beyond my understanding that those experts lie within the SPS. They do not. They lie outwith the SPS, and why the health service isn’t leading on this or academics involved, I don’t understand.” Mr Anwar echoed this, calling for a “national oversight mechanism” to implement meaningful change to TTM, and questioning what he said was a delay by the SPS to take action on making cells safer. He also repeated his earlier calls for the SPS to be made more accountable for the deaths through a lifting of Crown immunity that means the service cannot be prosecuted. “The SPS is guilty of gaslighting these families, of lying to them, of covering up,” the lawyer said. “They are guilty of corporate homicide, they are guilty of a breach of the health and safety regulation, and we’ll be interested to hear today from the minister how far they’ve got with the UK Government with regards to lifting of Crown immunity.” Teresa Medhurst, SPS chief executive, previously said: “We are sincerely sorry and we apologise for the deaths of Katie and William and our failings. “SPS has a duty of care to vulnerable young people in custody, including in moments of crisis in their lives. This response today sets out how we meet those recommendations, but also look at all ways in which we can go beyond them. Ms Constance previously said: “I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay. “Progress is being made to make legal aid free for bereaved families participating in deaths in custody FAIs.” The families of two people who took their own lives while in a young offenders institution now have a “chance of hope and a legacy”, their lawyer said after Scotland’s Justice Secretary accepted there had been “systemic failures contributing to their deaths” In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Angela Constance said the deaths of Katie Allan and William Brown “should not have happened while they were in the care of the state” The pair took their own lives within months of each other while in Polmont YOI in 2018 who had been a student at Glasgow University had been serving a sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving while 16-year-old Mr Brown – who had made repeated attempts on his life in 2017 – had been remanded to Polmont due to a lack space in a children’s secure unit After a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) held last year into their deaths Sheriff Simon Collins KC last week ruled there had been a “catalogue of individual and collective failures by prison and healthcare staff” and said their deaths “might have been avoided” Ms Constance told Holyrood on Thursday: “Those systemic failures require a systemic response “I hear and I fully understand the families’ demand for action and agree we must and we will take action.” the lawyer representing the families of Ms Allan and Mr Brown adding: “It is time that the SPS realised there is nothing inevitable about suicides.” For the first time in six years there is a chance of hope and a legacy Speaking after she and Scottish First Minister John Swinney met the families the Justice Secretary announced a series of measures as she accepted the 25 “thoughtful and substantial recommendations” made by Sheriff Collins Stressing that “systems-wide reform must now take place” Ms Constance said she is “determined to lead change” in the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and other bodies She told MSPs the SPS will now “urgently and immediately review and revise its policy” on items which can be used in suicides adding that the development of suicide prevention technology will be “accelerated” the SPS suicide prevention strategy “will be completely revised and overhauled” Noting there were “failings” when it came to sharing information regarding Mr Brown Ms Constance pledged urgent work to ensure written information held by the courts is passed to the SPS when a person is detained in custody The Justice Secretary went on to promise legislation will be introduced so that when a fatal accident inquiry is held following a death in custody the family can automatically get legal aid allowing them to be represented in the process Adding that the five years it took from the deaths of Ms Allan and Mr Brown for notice to be given that an inquiry would be held was “far too long” Ms Constance accepted: “It is clear the process is letting families down and the time taken for FAIs to start and conclude needs to be addressed.” independent review” on FAIs into deaths in custody – with the Justice Secretary saying she wants this to provide “solutions” by the end of this year After Mr Anwar called on Sir Keir Starmer to change the law to allow prisons to be prosecuted Ms Constance said she would “continue to pursue” this matter with the UK Government However as well as these measures she said more needs to be done to improve alternative punishments Ms Constance told MSPs: “People who break the law must face the consequences for their actions, and sometimes there is no alternative to the punishment of deprivation of liberty. “In other cases that can be done safely and more effectively in the community. “Let me be clear, people need to stop calling that soft justice. If we are in a mindset of saying jail is the only option then we will never be able to stop the impacts on people, on families and society that imprisonment can cause.” Afterwards, Mr Anwar said: “For the first time in six years there is a chance of hope and a legacy. “It is time that the SPS realised there is nothing inevitable about suicides. “Today the Government announced they will bring in laws to give automatic legal aid funding, thus giving a voice to all families of deaths in custody. “However families must be entitled to representation from day one, not three, four, five years later, if justice is to be done. “On the question of Crown immunity, we welcome that the Scottish Government will once again approach the UK Government to lift Crown immunity – it is effectively a licence to kill and fail.”