Suicidal Scots prisoners put in 'torture cells' instead of given care, inquiry hears

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The mother of a woman who took her own life at Polmont young offenders' institution says suicidal prisoners are placed in "torture cells" rather than being given therapeutic care.Professor Linda Allan, whose 21-year-old daughter Katie died in 2018, gave a lengthy statement to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry as it investigates abuse in young offenders' institutions.While Katie did not die in one of these "safe cells", Prof Allan said prisoners are reluctant to admit mental health difficulties due to the conditions they will be placed in as a result.Her statement described how Katie suffered bullying at Polmont and how she had tried to help her daughter in the weeks before her death.Prof Allan has been conducting research into prison deaths as well as campaigning for reform.She told Lady Smith's inquiry there has been an "astounding" increase in suicides in custody despite a new strategy to reduce them being introduced in 2016.The consultant nurse, who has an honorary professorship at Glasgow University, did not appear in person at the inquiry in Edinburgh but her statement was read out by a member of the inquiry team.Prof Allan said Katie had been part of a "normal family" in East Renfrewshire and had been studying geography at Glasgow University.In 2018, she was convicted of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol after an incident where a 15-year-old boy was knocked down.She was a first-time offender and her family did not expect her to receive a custodial sentence.

Prof Allan said: "When she was sentenced, she turned to me and mouthed 'help me mum'. It was horrendous."She said Katie first experienced bullying from another woman at Polmont who demanded coffee and cigarettes from her.When this woman