Families’ Lawyer Claims Polmont Deaths Were a ‘Death Sentence’
A lawyer for the families of two young people who died in Polmont calls for legal changes to hold prisons accountable for such tragedies
Polmont, Scotland, Katie Allan, William Brown, Suicide, Prison Reform
Polmont: A tragic situation unfolded at the Polmont Young Offenders Institution, where two young lives were lost. A lawyer representing their families is speaking out, saying they were essentially given a “death sentence.”
Katie Allan, just 21, and 16-year-old William Brown, also known as William Lindsay, both died in their cells in 2018. Their deaths happened just months apart, raising serious concerns about the care they received.
Katie was serving time for a drink-driving incident when she was found dead on June 4. William had a history of trying to take his own life before he was found dead on October 7, shortly after being moved to Polmont due to a lack of space elsewhere.
A fatal accident inquiry revealed a troubling pattern of failures by prison and healthcare staff. The sheriff in charge pointed out that both deaths could have been avoided with better precautions.
The families’ lawyer, Aamer Anwar, is calling for changes in the law to hold prisons accountable. He believes that without mandatory implementation of the recommendations from the inquiry, nothing will change.
He’s not holding back, saying that various public officials were complicit in these tragic deaths. Anwar argues that while the UK doesn’t have a death penalty, the treatment of Katie and William felt like one.
He’s pushing for the Prime Minister to change laws that currently protect prisons from prosecution. Anwar claims there was enough evidence to take action against the Scottish Prison Service, but their immunity prevented it.
He praised the inquiry’s findings as thorough but worries they’ll be ignored. The sheriff highlighted that the prison’s suicide prevention strategy wasn’t effective, and regular safety checks could have made a difference.
It’s clear that the failures were systemic and catastrophic. Anwar insists that if the prison had done its job, both young people might still be alive today.
Linda Allan, Katie’s mother, is understandably heartbroken. The call for a national oversight mechanism is growing, as campaigners want to ensure that recommendations don’t just fade away.
In a statement, the Scottish Prison Service expressed condolences and acknowledged the failures. They promised to consider the recommendations carefully.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance also extended her sympathies, emphasizing that these deaths were tragic and preventable. The families deserve answers, and the hope is that this will lead to real change.