Minister to act after two young jail suicides

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has said “there are rightly questions being asked” following the death of a teenager at a young offenders’ institution.

Sixteen-year-old William Brown, also known as William Lindsay, died while on remand at Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution ( YOI) in October.

He took his own life just days after being remanded, despite having been flagged up as a suicide risk.

Two weeks ago the parents of a young woman who killed herself, also in Polmont YOI, called for a review of Scotland’s prison system.

The family of Katie Allan, 21, who killed herself after being jailed for 16 months for drink driving, are to meet with Mr Yousaf after launching a campaign calling for change.

Mr Yousaf said he will set out the steps being taken “to ensure we are providing the best possible care” for young people in custody.

He tweeted: “The story of William Lindsay is a tragedy – there are rightly questions being asked. I will explore what can be done.”

Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Monica Lennon MSP said: “Katie Allan and William Lindsay are not the first young people to die at the hands of a broken system but they must be the last.”