Polmont: Katie Allan and William Brown’s Deaths Could Have Been Avoided
The tragic deaths of Katie Allan and William Brown at Polmont YOI raise serious concerns about prison safety and mental health support
Polmont, Katie Allan, William Brown, Scotland, Suicide Prevention
Polmont: In 2018, Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16, tragically took their own lives while at Polmont Young Offenders Institution. Their deaths happened just months apart, raising serious questions about the care they received.
Katie was a Glasgow University student serving a 16-month sentence for a serious driving offense. She was found dead in her cell on June 4. William, who had a troubled background, was discovered dead on October 7, just days after being admitted to Polmont.
A recent inquiry revealed a series of failures by prison and healthcare staff. The sheriff leading the inquiry pointed out that the suicide prevention strategy, known as Talk To Me, was not effectively implemented for either of them.
Katie wasn’t considered a risk when she arrived, so she wasn’t placed on the TTM program. Yet, there were clear signs of distress, like bullying and health issues, that should have raised alarms. Her weight dropped significantly during her stay, which was another red flag.
William was initially placed on TTM but was taken off it the next day, despite being a high-risk individual. Even after social workers provided more information about his risk, he wasn’t put back on the program.
The sheriff concluded that if proper precautions had been taken, their deaths might have been prevented. He criticized the lack of effective communication between the prison service and other agencies regarding prisoner risks.
In his report, which is over 400 pages long, he made 25 recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future. He expressed his condolences to the families, acknowledging their pain and the long wait for answers.
The Scottish Prison Service has stated they are committed to improving safety and will carefully consider the recommendations. Justice Secretary Angela Constance also expressed her sympathies, emphasizing that such deaths are preventable and should not happen in state care.
Overall, the inquiry has highlighted the urgent need for better mental health support and safety measures in prisons to protect vulnerable individuals.