A Scottish student who tragically took her own life while in prison was reportedly terrified and faced harassment from fellow inmates prior to her death. Katie Allan, a 21-year-old university student from Glasgow, had been sentenced to 16 months at Polmont Young Offenders Institution in Stirlingshire for dangerous driving. On the day of her death, she was allegedly facing beratement from other prisoners. An ongoing inquiry into her death, as well as the death of another inmate at the same facility, shines a light on the conditions within the prison system.
During the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) conducted at Falkirk Sheriff Court, it was revealed that Katie Allan had been initially taken to Cornton Vale Prison in Stirling, where she informed a nurse about her previous self-harming history. On the day before her death, she received a visit from her mother and brother. The inquiry is also investigating the death of 16-year-old inmate William Brown, who died shortly after being remanded in custody for public safety reasons.
Katie’s family solicitor, Aamer Anwar, called for the abolishment of Crown immunity, which currently protects the Scottish Prison Service from prosecution in cases of inmate deaths. Anwar urged First Minister Humza Yousaf to hold the Scottish Prison Service accountable.
The circumstances leading to Katie’s death were revealed during the inquiry. She was last seen alive watching television in her cell on the evening of June 3, 2018. The next morning, she was discovered dead after taking her own life. Notes were found in her cell, along with letters addressed to her mother, grandmother, and a friend. It was noted that Katie had lost significant weight during her three months at Polmont.
The inquiry also highlighted the case of William Brown, who committed suicide at the age of 16 shortly after being assessed as at no apparent risk of suicide. Despite walking into a police station with a knife while on bail for another offense, William’s suicide watch was halted, and he was found dead nearly 12 hours later.
The Scottish Government abstained from commenting on the FAI itself but stated that it would carefully consider the outcome of the inquiry. As the investigation continues, both families hope for answers and accountability.
Tragically, the deaths of Katie Allan and William Brown shed light on the challenges faced by young inmates within the Scottish prison system. The ongoing inquiry aims to discover the truth and bring about necessary changes to protect vulnerable prisoners.
