Pressure mounts on ministers to confirm juvenile criminal law timeline

A senior Liberal Democrat MP has stepped up pressure on Scottish ministers to confirm when laws preventing under-18s being placed in youth detention centres will be introduced.

The Scottish Government has faced mounting calls for clarity on the terms of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act following the death of 17-year-old Jonathan Beadle at Polmont Young Offenders Institution on 13 July.

The legislation, passed in June, requires youth ages 16 and 17 to be placed in secure care instead of juvenile detention centers.

However, Children’s Minister Natalie Don said earlier that the law would not come into effect until later this year.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Willie Rennie has said the Scottish Government must act quickly after “another tragedy”.

In a parliamentary question, he asked when the measures would come into effect and demanded answers as to whether the Scottish Government had taken sufficient steps to ensure there was sufficient capacity in secure accommodation.

Mr Rennie said: “When this legislation passed through the final parliamentary stage, the Minister confirmed that alternative secure housing providers were prepared to implement these changes.

“Now that we have had yet another tragedy in our prison system, it is time for the Scottish Government to give us a date for when these provisions will come into effect.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have consistently raised concerns about the prevalence of self-harm in Scotland’s prisons and have called for mental health professionals to be present in every prison.

“While we do not know the circumstances of Jonathan’s tragic death, reform of mental health care in prisons is urgently needed. But we must also recognize that the needs of young people are not well served by harsh prison sentences.”

The findings of the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into the deaths of three other young people in Polmont will be published shortly.

An FAI has been launched into the deaths of William Lindsay, 16, and Katie Allan, 21, who both committed suicide within months of each other in 2018.

A separate investigation was also launched into the death of 20-year-old Jack McKenzie, who is believed to have committed suicide in 2021.

Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy and I offer my deepest condolences to Jonathan’s family. As a report will be submitted to the Attorney-General, it would be inappropriate to comment further. The decision on whether a child should be detained rests with the independent judiciary.

“The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act, which received Royal Assent on 4 June, includes provisions to end the placement of under-18s in youth detention centres.

“Plans are progressing well to ensure these provisions come into effect as soon as possible. There is also ongoing engagement with partners, including the Scottish Prison Service and secure care providers, to enable the transfer of those currently at Polmont in line with the provisions coming into effect.”