Calls on Government to confirm when children will stop being sent to Polmont

A senior Liberal Democrat MSP has increased the pressure on Scottish ministers to confirm when laws preventing under-18s from being placed in young offenders institutes will be implemented.

The Scottish Government has faced increased calls to provide clarity on the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act provisions after 17-year-old Jonathan Beadle died at Polmont Young Offenders Institution on July 13.

The legislation, enacted in June, requires those aged 16 and 17 to be placed in secure accommodation rather than young offenders facilities.

However, children’s minister Natalie Don previously said the law will not come into force until later this year.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie has said the Scottish Government must act quickly in the wake of “another tragedy”.

In a parliamentary question, he asked when provisions will commence and demanded answers on whether the Scottish Government had taken adequate steps to ensure there was the necessary capacity in secure accommodation.

Rennie said: “When this legislation was passing its final parliamentary stage, the minister confirmed that the providers of alternative secure accommodation were ready to accommodate these changes.

“In the wake of yet another tragedy in our prison system, it is time for the Scottish Government to give us a date by which these provisions will be in place.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have consistently raised concerns about the extent to which self-harm is taking place in Scotland’s prisons and pushed for mental health workers at each one.

“Whilst we do not know the circumstances of the tragic death of Jonathan, reform of prison mental health care is urgently needed but so is a recognition that young people’s needs are not well served by harsh custodial sentences.”

The findings of fatal accident inquiries (FAI) into the deaths of three other young people at Polmont are due to be published.

An FAI was held 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 was also held into the death of 20-year-old Jack McKenzie, who is reported to have taken his own life in 2021.

Victims and community safety minister Siobhian Brown said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy and I extend my deepest condolences to Jonathan’s family. As a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal, it would be inappropriate to comment further. The decision on whether to detain a child remains with the independent judiciary.

“The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act which received royal assent on June 4 includes provisions to end the placement of under-18s in young offenders institutions.

“Plans are moving at pace to ensure commencement of these provisions as soon as possible. There is also ongoing engagement with partners, including the Scottish Prison Service and secure care providers, to enable the transfer of those currently in Polmont in line with commencement of the provisions.”