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Teenager dies in custody at Polmont Young Offenders Institution

SPS The outside of Polmont Young Offenders Institution. There appear to be two buildings which are both sandy-coloured and have HMYOI POLMONT letters on them. There is an entrance between the buildings and two cars parked outside in disabled spaces. The spaces are designated by yellow lines and the sign of someone in a wheelchair.SPS
The 19-year-old man died at the institution on Sunday

A 19-year-old man has died at a young offenders institution that was heavily criticised last year after the deaths of two other young people there.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed the teenager died at Polmont Young Offenders Institution on Sunday.

It is understood the man's death is not being treated as suspicious, and that he had been held in the protection wing for a reason unrelated to the offence he was jailed for.

Last year, a sheriff ruled the deaths of Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16, could have been avoided but for a "catalogue of failures" in the system.

Katie and William took their own lives in separate incidents at Polmont in 2018.

At the conclusion of a joint fatal accident inquiry Sheriff Simon Collins also found that reasonable precautions could have been taken to avoid their deaths.

He made 25 recommendations, including for the SPS to make definite and practical steps to make cells safer.

Sheriff Collins said William's death resulted from a catalogue of individual and collective failures by the SPS and healthcare staff at Polmont.

He concluded "almost all of those who interacted with him were at fault to some extent."

The sheriff also said a reasonable precaution would have been to have kept William – who had a history of attempting suicide – on observations.

In Katie's case, the sheriff highlighted multiple failures by staff to properly identify, record and share information relevant to her risk.

The sheriff also found that if Katie's cell had been made safe, her death would not have happened.

William Brown in a maroon school blazer, white shirt and maroon and grey striped tie. He has ginger hair and freckles and is smiling at the camera. The photo next to him is of Katie Allan who has long, blonde hair. sept to the side. She is wearing a patterned, multi-coloured jumper and is also smiling at the camera.
William Brown and Katie Allan both died at Polmont in 2018

The SPS said Police Scotland had been notified of the man's death on Sunday and a fatal inquiry would be carried out.

An SPS spokesperson said: "This is a tragic loss and our thoughts are with all those who knew and supported him.

"In line with established procedures, Police Scotland have been notified and the case has been reported to the procurator fiscal.

A fatal accident inquiry will be carried out in due course.

The spokesperson added: "We are committed to improving safety, care and wellbeing across the prison estate.

"Together with our partners, we will continue to learn, deepen our understanding, and strengthen the systems and supports that protect people in our care."

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