A 17-YEAR-OLD boy has died at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, two years after the Scottish Government pledged to stop sending under-18s to the facility.
The Scottish Prison Service confirmed to the BBC that Jonathan Beadle died at the facility near Falkirk on Saturday.
A mandatory Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held to examine the circumstances of his death.
A prison service spokesperson said: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.
“Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal accident inquiries are held in due course.”
Jonathan was held at a secure children’s unit while his case was ongoing before being moved to Polmont after pleading guilty.
The teenager had been convicted of possessing a weapon with intent to “assault and murder” a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
Police Scotland said Jonathan’s death is being treated as unexplained and believe there are no suspicious circumstances.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of the death of a 17-year-old male at HMP Polmont, Blairlodge Avenue, Polmont on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
“The death is being treated as unexplained but there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.
“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
The Scottish Government announced in 2022 it would no longer place 16 and 17-year-olds in young offender institutions.
Scotland’s chief inspector of prisons, Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, led calls at the time for no-one under the age of 18 to be sent to jail.
She said sending 16 and 17-year-olds to Polmont, especially those who had not yet been convicted, was a breach of their human rights.
People under the age of 18 are now supposed to be placed in secure accommodation rather than a young offenders institute under the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, which became law last month.
According to the BBC as of July 12, there were nine 16 to 17-year-olds held in custody at Polmont, six of them were untried, two had been sentenced and one had been awaiting sentencing.
Siobhian Brown, minister for victims and community safety, said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy and I extend my deepest condolences to Jonathan’s family. As a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
“The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act which received Royal Assent on June 4, includes provisions to end the placement of under 18s in Young Offenders Institutions.
“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.”
