The tragic suicides of Katie Allan, 20, and William Lindsay, 16, at Polmont Young Offender Institution have been declared preventable in a long-awaited joint inquiry report. The findings, released on January 17, 2025, criticized the system’s failures and called for significant changes in how such cases are handled, urging the UK government to end prisons’ immunity from prosecution.
A Catalogue of Failures
The 419-page report, compiled by Sheriff Simon Collins KC, outlines a series of systemic failures that allowed both young people to die in custody, despite staff being aware of their vulnerabilities. The inquiry found that Katie Allan and William Lindsay could have been saved had their specific risks been better managed.
Katie Allan, a University of Glasgow student, was serving a 16-month sentence for dangerous driving when she took her own life. The inquiry revealed that Allan had been subjected to humiliating strip searches and relentless bullying. Furthermore, prison and healthcare staff failed to share information related to her self-harm risks. The report concluded that a simple modification to her cell could have prevented her death.
William Lindsay, who was just 16 years old, was sent to Polmont after being detained for carrying a knife. His brother, John Reilly, recounted how William was left alone in a cell for hours, despite a history of self-harming behaviors. Tragically, William died only three days after being sent to Polmont because no space was available in a children’s secure unit.
Calls for Legal Action and Systemic Change
The report prompted the families’ lawyer, Aamer Anwar, to demand an end to crown immunity for prison services in the UK. He stated that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service had acknowledged there was enough evidence to prosecute the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) under health and safety laws but were unable to do so due to the current legal framework that shields prisons from prosecution.
Deborah Coles, the executive director of Inquest, a charity supporting the families, described the report as “highly unusual and far-reaching.” She highlighted the institutional culture of secrecy, defensiveness, and complacency that has often surrounded deaths in custody. Coles called for a national oversight mechanism to ensure the recommendations were followed through, as well as better access to legal aid for grieving families.
Recommendations for Change
The report made 25 recommendations, including:
- Making cells safer, such as replacing bunk beds with single beds or installing equipment to prevent ligature risks.
- A timely investigation of deaths in custody with the involvement of families and access to legal aid.
- A radical overhaul of Scotland’s fatal accident inquiry (FAI) system to make its findings legally binding.
An SPS spokesperson expressed condolences and apologies to the families, stating that the service would carefully consider the report’s findings. However, the families and their supporters maintain that a fundamental shift in the legal system is needed to prevent further tragedies like this.
The inquiry’s findings have sparked renewed debate on the treatment of young offenders and the need for greater accountability within the prison system.
