Prison inspectors find progress but 'systemic obstacles' after suicides

A follow-up inspection of a young offenders institution after the suicides of two inmates has found progress but also "systemic obstacles".

Prison inspectors at Polmont, near Falkirk, found a lack of "purposeful activity" - with young men spending too long locked up and improvements needed in cell safety.

But the report also praised better monitoring, including a new "Talk to Me" suicide prevention process and phoneline for families to raise concerns.

It comes after a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) last year found the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay in 2018 could have been avoided had there not been a "catalogue of failures" at the facility.

Allan, 21, and Brown, 16, took their own lives in separate incidents at Polmont Young Offenders Institution.

Last year, at the end of a joint FAI, Sheriff Simon Collins made 25 recommendations after ruling that reasonable precautions could have avoided their deaths.

A follow-up inspection, carried out last August by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland, working jointly with Health Improvement Scotland, found that "dedicated staff" had worked hard to implement these recommendations.

But the report found that despite their efforts, they often faced systemic obstacles such as a lack of resources and staff shortages.

The physical and mental health needs of young people were now being checked on arrival, but sometimes new inmates arrived too late and had to wait until the following day for a full assessment, the report found.

On two occasions during the inspection, young men were admitted after 23:00.

A "Talk to Me" process in the first 72 hours after arrival had been introduced, fulfilling one of the FAI's key recommendations, providing better monitoring and discussion of suicide risk at case conferences.

But there were no extra resources to provide this, leading to workload pressures elsewhere, for instance some other support was no longer consistently provided by a "named nurse".

The FAI had recommended improvements in cell safety but the inspectors found that Polmont still does not have a dedicated care suite, which they believed was essential for supporting young people in acute distress.

Some measures to reduce suicide risk had been taken, for instance by removing bunk beds and doorstops, but no cell was totally ligature-free or suicide proof.

Even in spaces considered "safer cells", there was still the possibility of self harm, they found.

A trial was taking place, however - as recommended by the FAI - of "signs of life" technology based on movement or heart rate, which could improve monitoring.

A major concern of the inspection report was a lack of "purposeful activity" on offer, with some activities unavailable, limited in range or frequently cancelled due to staff shortages.

Most young men were offered only a minimum of one hour of fresh air and 45 minutes social time a day, with early morning slots poorly attended.

Work and education activity was also provided but there were limited spaces, and on one morning during the inspection less than a fifth of young inmates were taking part in activities outside the main residential hall.

Staff were praised for their awareness and procedures for dealing with bullying.

A dedicated 24/7 concern phone line - another FAI recommendation - was now prominently displayed on the its website, the inspectors observed.

But family attendance at case conferences was limited, and some young men had trouble accessing visits, particularly at family-friendly times, due to sharing visit slots with adult men.

Sara Snell, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, said staff had worked hard to implement the FAI recommendations, and were delivering high quality case conferences.

But she added: "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."

The Scottish Prison Service said the report had highlighted "the excellent work of our staff in supporting young people" which was ongoing.

A spokesperson said: "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."

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said she was "encouraged" by progress made at the institution, but added that "further work" remained.

She said: "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."

She added: "Each death in custody is a tragedy, and our deepest sympathies remain with the families, friends and staff affected."