Katie Allan and William Lindsay died in 2018 while serving sentences at a young offenders institution.

A joint Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) will be held into the deaths of two young people who tragically took their own lives while incarcerated at a young offenders institution. Katie Allan, aged 21, died at Polmont Young Offenders Institution in June 2018 while serving a sentence for a driving offence. William Lindsay, aged 16, died in October 2018, just days after being sent to the institution on remand.

A preliminary hearing for the FAI is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 11 July 2023, at Falkirk Sheriff Court. Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC expressed her hopes that the inquiry would provide the families with answers and help prevent similar deaths in the future.

Charteris acknowledged the deep anguish caused to the families, having met with the parents of both Katie and William. She added, “I fully appreciate that the wait for these proceedings has been too long and distressing for them.” She also emphasized that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service had introduced reforms aimed at reducing the time it takes to investigate deaths in custody and improving communication with bereaved families.

The families of the two young people have long sought justice and are calling for the lifting of Crown immunity, which prevents the Scottish Prison Service from being prosecuted. They stated that while Scotland does not have the death penalty, the conditions at Polmont Young Offenders Institute essentially led to the death of their loved ones. They have urged the Scottish Government to prioritize lifting Crown immunity, making it possible to prosecute the Scottish Prison Service and other relevant agencies responsible for their deaths.

Katie Allan’s parents expressed that if their daughter had mattered to the Scottish Prison Service, she would still be alive today. They are reflecting on the fifth anniversary of her death, while demanding changes in the system.

The inquiry, which is inquisitorial in nature, will focus on the circumstances surrounding both deaths and explore the effectiveness of the Scottish Prison Service’s “Talk To Me” strategy, which aims to prevent suicides in custody. It will examine the cause of death, the circumstances in which they occurred, and what reasonable precautions could have been taken to prevent future deaths in similar situations.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) acknowledged the emotional distress caused to families but refrained from commenting on the ongoing proceedings. They emphasized their priority of ensuring the safety and welfare of those in their care. A 2019 independent review had reported improvements in healthcare for young people at Polmont.

A Scottish Government spokesperson reiterated their sympathies for the families and assured that lessons would be learned from the outcome of the FAI.