Ministerial Accountability Board concludes ten months of
oversight.
An expert group has published its final report following ten
months of independent oversight into the implementation of Fatal
Accident Inquiry (FAI) recommendations relating to deaths in
custody.
The Ministerial Accountability Board (MAB) was established
following Sheriff Collins' FAI into the deaths of Katie Allan and
William Lindsay (also known as ) at HMP & YOI Polmont,
and tasked with overseeing implementation of the Inquiry's
recommendations.
Chaired by Justice Secretary , the board comprised six
independent members drawn from legal, academic, operational,
public health and third sector backgrounds.
Family members attended two MAB meetings, with their
contributions directly informing the board's considerations. MAB
representatives also attended a Family Listening Day in October
2025, facilitated by the charitable trust Inquest and
commissioned by the Scottish Human Rights Commission, to hear
bereaved families share their experiences in a safe space.
Following Sheriff Collins's FAI determination, 39 of 43
recommendations now show measurable progress. Among progress
noted in the report:
- Scottish Prison Service (SPS) are introducing a new suicide
prevention policy to replace Talk to Me
- All courts in Scotland have now been directed to routinely
provide prisons with any pre-sentence reports that are available
to the court
- Signs of Life technology has been installed and piloted in
two prisons, and an enhanced admission process for young people
in their first 72 hours has been introduced.
- Sheriff Principal Abercrombie's independent review delivered
on schedule with practical recommendations to reduce FAI
timelines, which the Scottish Government is now
considering.
- Free, non-means-tested legal aid for families in deaths in
custody FAIs came into effect from 7 April 2025, with plans to
expand access in the near future.
- Lessons learned from the MAB will inform the development of a
National Oversight Mechanism, which will provide independent
oversight and scrutiny of deaths in prison custody.
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs said:
“The preventable deaths of Katie and William were profound
tragedies – as is the loss of life of any person in the care of
the state. The Ministerial Accountability Board's final report
delivers a strong message across the system about the
accountability and action needed to ensure such failures are
never repeated.
“I extend my sincere thanks to the members of the Board for their
time, expertise and candour. Most importantly, I acknowledge the
families who have lost loved ones in custody, for their tireless
efforts to demand change and their engagement with board members
during this process.
“The final progress report shows that there is a strong and
credible foundation to implement the further necessary reforms to
improve safety for young people in our care, but we know there is
more work to do. I was particularly struck by the recurring theme
raised by board members around the gap between good policy and
good practice. That gap must be closed, and I am hopeful that the
actions we have taken this past year have made significant steps
towards that goal.”
MAB Member Sam Gluckstein, Senior Expert Adviser to the
Inspectorate of Prisons Ireland said:
“The Ministerial Accountability Board's work over the past year
has been an important and overdue step in strengthening
accountability and learning lessons from past tragedies. Progress
has been made, but the real measure of success will be whether
reforms move beyond policy commitments and lead to safer practice
for people in custody. Preventing deaths in prison must remain an
urgent priority.
“One preventable death is too many. The Board has monitored the
implementation of recommendations arising from the deaths of
three young people — Katie, William and Jack — but there were
deaths before them, and there have been deaths since. Our work
has aimed to maintain momentum behind reforms and ensure
accountability for their delivery. That progress must now
continue with pace and focus.”
Background
MAB final report
The MAB met formally five times, carried out site visits to HMP
& YOIs Polmont and Stirling, and engaged with bereaved
families directly during its work.
The MAB was established in June 2025 and concluded in March 2026.
Copies of its final report will also be shared in the Scottish
Prison Service library to update people in custody directly on
the work that has taken place since the publication of the FAIs
of Katie Allan, William Lindsay and Jack McKenzie. Copies have
been made available to their families.
