Children in Polmont YOI moved to secure care as new law comes into force

All under-18s who were previously detained at Polmont Young Offenders Institution (YOI) near Falkirk have been moved to secure care settings, ministers have announced.

Natalie Don-Innes, minister for children, young people and the Promise, said the Scottish Government is moving “at pace” to implement the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act, which contains provisions for ending the detention of under-18s in YOIs in Scotland.

Regulations ending new admissions of children to YOIs came into force on August 28.

Ms Don-Innes said the aim is to ensure the “wellbeing and rehabilitation” of children who break the law, while also keeping communities safe.

The move comes in the wake of the death of 17-year-old Jonathan Beadle at Polmont YOI on Saturday July 13.

He had been there despite the Act, which requires those aged 16 and 17 to be placed in secure accommodation rather than in a young offenders institution, being enacted in June.

On July 25, Justice Secretary Angela Constance said seven children aged under 18 were still detained at Polmont.

Ms Don-Innes said: “We have been moving at pace since the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill received royal assent in June to implement this reform and ensure no under-18s will be detained in a young offenders institution from now on, moving to suitable settings such as secure care.

“This move will ensure children in conflict with the law are placed in safe suitable accommodation which will ensure their wellbeing and rehabilitation is at the heart of their care, while also keeping communities safe.

“I value and appreciate the work the providers will undertake to make the young people feel settled. Implementing this reform has been an enormous collaborative effort.

“I am very grateful to the secure accommodation providers, the Scottish Prison Service, Social Work Scotland, Crown Office, Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and the Care Inspectorate.

“The success of their combined effort demonstrates our commitment to ‘Keep the Promise’, further protect children’s rights and keep communities safe.”

The Scottish Government has made up to £7 million of additional funding available to cover the cost of placements in the current financial year.

This is in addition to £500,000 offered to secure accommodation providers to support their preparation for the movement of children, with the aim of ensuring wellbeing and safety is the top priority.

The Act, which received royal assent on June 4, is part of wider work by the Scottish Government to embed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law.

It aims to improve children’s experiences of the care and justice systems, whether as victims, witnesses or children who have caused harm.

The death of Mr Beadle came ahead of the findings of fatal accident inquiries into the deaths of three other young people at Polmont.

An inquiry was held recently into the deaths of William Lindsay, 16, and Katie Allan, 21, who both took their own lives in separate incidents within months of each other in 2018.

A separate inquiry has also been held into the death of Jack McKenzie, 20, who is also reported to have taken his own life in Polmont in September 2021.