Young prisoners ‘spending far too long locked in cells’, watchdog warns

Young prisoners at Polmont are spending “far too long locked in their cells” with not enough opportunities for work, education or recreation, a report has found.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland also warned that mental health services were coming under growing strain due to an increasingly complex prison population.

The report comes after a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) was launched into the suicides of Katie Allan and William Brown – also known as William Lindsay – at the young offenders institution near Falkirk in 2018.

Inspectors found Polmont was taking action to implement the recommendations of the FAI and said the introduction of a 72-hour suicide prevention protocol for all new young male prisoners was operating effectively.

But they described the amount of time young people spent in their cells as a “major concern” and criticised the lack of “positive activities and outside interests available to them”.

The report found that some activities were routinely cancelled due to staffing pressures and that opportunities for work, education and recreation were constrained.

It highlighted “notable pressures” in healthcare services, including a “growing and increasingly complex prisoner population”, which has put the mental health team under increasing strain.

Despite the pressures, inspectors found a committed team delivering “responsive support and good governance arrangements underpinning clinical practice”.

They commended staff for their efforts to tackle bullying and said the team had used mediation to reduce tensions in the estate, but added that with all young men now accommodated in a single hall, relocation options for vulnerable prisoners were limited.

The report also praised the prison for having a clear process for families to raise concerns through a 24-hour phone line, with issues “acted on appropriately”.

However, inspectors said staffing pressures meant some young men struggled to access visits.

The report also highlighted the lack of a dedicated care suite for young people in acute distress and shortcomings in “safer cells”.

The inspectorate concluded that Polmont staff were committed, skilled and working hard to support young people at risk of self-harm.

Many improvements have been made in response to the FAI, including better documentation, stronger governance and enhanced multi-agency working, it found.

However, significant systemic pressures, including “limited purposeful activity”, staffing shortages and delays in receiving crucial background information from external agencies, continue to create risks, according to the watchdog.

The report called for urgent national and local action, including a better daily structure, a rise in healthcare capacity and the creation of safer and more therapeutic environment for vulnerable young people.

Sara Snell, HM chief inspector of Prisons for Scotland, said: “While the prison has worked hard to implement the recommendations of the fatal accident inquiry, and we saw dedicated staff delivering high-quality case conferences and working in collaboration, young men in Polmont continue to spend far too long locked in their cells with too few opportunities to develop skills, build confidence and maintain positive mental health.

“Improving outcomes for these young men requires sustained, cross-agency commitment and the right resources in the right places.”

Justice secretary Angela Constance said: “Each death in custody is a tragedy, and our deepest sympathies remain with the families, friends and staff affected.

“I welcome the inspectorate’s report on HMP & YOI Polmont and the recognition of the progress made in implementing the fatal accident inquiry determination recommendations to better protect young people from the risk of suicide.

“The report acknowledges the clear focus given to the FAI recommendations, noting that HMP & YOI Polmont has implemented a number of actions within its control and engaged constructively with partners on wider measures, including the introduction of in-cell signs-of-life technology.

“I am pleased that the report highlights good examples of prison and external agency staff who bring the right skills alongside the genuine commitment, understanding and dedication needed to build trust with young people and motivate their willing participation.

“While this progress is encouraging, further work remains, and I am fully committed to improving outcomes for those in our care and preventing future loss of life.”

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “We welcome this report by HMIPS, following their inspection in August last year, which highlights the excellent work of our staff in supporting young people, including through the effective introduction of 72-hour periods of Talk To Me for new arrivals, and the high calibre of case conferences, which assess their risks and needs

“Since the inspection we have made significant progress at HMP & YOI Polmont, including continued investment to support time out of cells, an improved induction programme, and enhanced family contact.”