SPS Launches Suicide Prevention Strategy Following Polmont Deaths

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has formally apologized to the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay, who tragically took their own lives at Polmont Young Offenders Institution in 2018. Following a fatal accident inquiry that revealed systemic failures, the SPS has accepted all 25 recommendations, committing to overhauling its suicide prevention strategy, enhancing support for vulnerable young people, and implementing new safety measures. Key changes include the removal of bunk beds from cells for young inmates, a minimum 72-hour monitoring requirement upon admission, and the introduction of a suicide prevention technology trial by 2026. The SPS has also pledged to conduct regular audits of cells to identify suicide risks and consider rip-resistant bedding to improve safety. Families have responded to the apology by stating it is