MSPs seek answers over teenager's death in Polmont

The Scottish Parliament's justice committee has asked the government to explain why a 17-year-old boy who took his own life at Polmont Young Offenders Institution was placed in the facility.

Jonathan Beadle died at Polmont on Saturday - two years after the Scottish government said they would no longer send under-18s there.

SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll, the committee convener, has asked Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown to explain why the decision to send him to Polmont was made.

She has also asked why 16 and 17-year-olds are still being kept in young offenders institutions despite legislation being passed to stop it happening.

A fatal accident inquiry - which is mandatory for any death in custody - will be held to examine the circumstances of Jonathan's death.

Ms Nicoll wrote in her letter to Ms Brown: "I recognise that the death of Mr Beadle will be the subject of an FAI in due course.

"In the meantime, I would be grateful for details of the timeline in this case and the circumstances that lead to the decision to move Mr Beadle from secure care to HMP&YOI Polmont.

"I would also be grateful for an update on the timescales for the implementation of sections 16 to 18 of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act and the reasons why these remain to be enacted."

BBC Scotland understands that the 17-year-old was sent to Polmont after pleading guilty to a charge of acting in a disorderly manner and being in possession of weapons with intent to "assault and murder" a 16-year-old girl.

He had put an airgun, shovel, wrench, duct tape and rope in the boot of a car as he went looking for the girl in Moray in March last year.

While the case was ongoing, he stayed in a secure children’s unit before being moved to Polmont.

Ms Brown said on Tuesday that every death in custody was a tragedy and that the government was working to end the placement of under-18s in young offenders institutions.

She added: "We are working with the Scottish Prison Service and secure accommodation providers to commence these provisions shortly. The decision on whether to detain a child remains with the independent judiciary.”

The Scottish government pledged in March 2022 that 16 and 17-year-olds would no longer be placed in young offenders institutions.

It said it would instead fund "care-based alternatives" and shift the approach from "one of punishment to one of love and support".

The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill - which sets out that children under the age of 18 will no longer be sent to young offenders institutions- received Royal Assent last month and became an Act of Parliament.

But there were still nine 16 and 17-year-olds being held in custody at Polmont on 12 July.

Six were untried, two had been sentenced and one had been awaiting sentencing.

Young offenders institutions provide custodial facilities for 16 to 21-year-olds. They are part of the prison estate, and are managed by the Scottish Prison Service

A joint fatal accident inquiry (FAI) was held earlier this year into the deaths of Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16, who both took their own lives at Polmont within months of each other in 2018.

A separate FAI was also recently held into the death of Jack McKenzie, who took his own life at Polmont on 3 September 2021.

Sheriff Simon Collins, who heard both inquiries, is expected to make recommendations for change when he delivers his determination into the circumstances of all three deaths later in the year.

The purpose of an FAI is to establish whether the deaths could have been prevented.

It will also examine what precautions could be taken in future to try and stop young people from taking their own lives in prison.