All offenders under the age of 18 who were in Young Offenders’ Institution (YOI) Polmont have been moved into secure care, according to The Scottish Government.
No offenders under 18 will be admitted to the institution since new regulations which came into effect at the end of August. The government is putting funding of up to £7 million forward to cover the costs of such placements. A further £500,000 has been offered to secure accommodation providers to prepare for the movement of children, “ensuring their wellbeing and safety is the top priority”.
This move is part of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and also to Keep the Promise, the 2024 Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act’s provisions. This aims to improve the experience for children in the care and justice systems – no matter if they are the victims or the offenders.
Any child under 18 can now ask to be referred to the Children’s Reporter.
Several children have died by suicide at YOI Polmont – including a 17-year-old boy in July this year, and a 16 year-old boy, William Brown, who died in 2018. This took place within months of the death by suicide of Katie Allan, leading to a Fatal Accident Inquiry earlier this year.
The 17 year-old died after the government pledged it would pass the necessary legislation to end the incarceration of 16 and 17 year-olds in young offenders’ institutions back in March 2022. The chief inspector of prisons in Scotland, Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, has said that this practice was a breach of the children’s human rights. In summer this year the BBC reported there were nine 16 to 17 year-olds held in custody in Polmont.
Minister for The Promise Natalie Don-Innes said: “We have been moving at pace since the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill received Royal Assent in June to implement this reform and ensure no under 18s will be detained in a Young Offenders Institution from now on, moving to suitable settings such as secure care.
“This move will ensure children in conflict with the law are placed in safe suitable accommodation which will ensure their wellbeing and rehabilitation is at the heart of their care, while also keeping communities safe.
“I value and appreciate the work the providers will undertake to make the young people feel settled. Implementing this reform has been an enormous collaborative effort. I am very grateful to the secure accommodation providers, the Scottish Prison Service, Social Work Scotland, Crown Office, Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service and the Care Inspectorate. The success of their combined effort demonstrates our commitment to ‘Keep the Promise’, further protect children’s rights and keep communities safe.”
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