Joint probe into deaths at Polmont young offenders launched

A probe into the deaths of two prisoners at the young offenders unit in Polmont has been announced by the crown office and procurator fiscal.

Katie Allan, who was 21 when she died, and William Lindsay, who was 16, both took their lives in the prison within months of each other in 2018.

Now a joint fatal accident inquiry has been launched into their deaths - after campaigning from their families.

The first Preliminary Hearing will be held on 11th July 2023 at Falkirk Sheriff Court, an evidential hearing is expected to commence on the 8th January for some 6 six weeks.

The purpose of an FAI is to determine the cause of a death, and establish the circumstances in which the death occurred as well as which reasonable precautions could have been taken and could be implemented in future.

Commenting on the announcement the Solicitor General, Ruth Charteris KC acknowledged the "deep anguish" both families have experienced after the deaths of Katie and William.

She said: "I met with Katie’s mother and father and William’s mother and brother and having listened to them talk about their experiences I fully appreciate that the wait for these proceedings has been too long and distressing for them.

“My hope is that this Inquiry provides them with the answers that they are looking for and helps to prevent similar deaths in the future."

Katie's parents Linda & Stuart said "This Sunday will be the 5th anniversary of our daughter’s death. We will spend the day reflecting on Katie’s life and all she meant to us. Katie’s life, like many other young people, meant nothing to the Scottish Prison Service, if it had she would not be dead.

"For 5 years we have known we will have to relive every minute of the horror our daughter faced at her FAI. The Crown office accept that despite credible and reliable evidence for a successful criminal prosecution they cannot prosecute the SPS due to crown immunity, they accept our domestic law is not fit for purpose, how can we accept this?"

Solicitor Aamer Anwar, who represents both families, said:

"William Lindsay was only 16 when he was admitted to Polmont Young Offender’s Institute on the 4th October 2018. William was an obvious high suicide risk, yet despite a known history of several suicide attempts, being in and out of care at least 19 times since the age of 3, 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 the 7th October 2018 William’s body was found in his cell, after he had taken his own life.

"Katie Allan was a geography student at Glasgow University when she was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Kate had a number of days left to serve before being eligible for release but violated and crushed she could take no more and at the age of 21 she took her own life.

"We do not have the death sentence in Scotland but for William and Katie that is exactly what Polmont Young Offender’s Institute meant. The lifting of Crown immunity must a priority for the Scottish Government."

Ruth Charteris KC also said:

“The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has introduced a number of reforms designed to reduce the time it takes to investigate deaths, improve the quality of such investigations, and improve communication with bereaved families. As part of these reforms, a specialist custody deaths investigation team has been set up to focus on cases such as those of Katie and William.”

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