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Publication - Progress report

Ministerial Accountability Board: progress report - February 2026

Published
20 February 2026
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order
ISBN
9781806438068

Information collected for the February meeting of the MAB reporting on the progress made towards the completion of the various recommendations and commitments being monitored by the board. It is based on information from Scottish Government, NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Prison Service.

Part of

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5. Theme: Cell and Personal Safety

Recommendation 1 (Katie & William FAI): Remove double bunk beds from all cells where young prisoners are accommodated.

RAGRatings:
Timeline showing the reported RAG ratings for each month. The RAG rating has been Blue for each month, June, September, December and February.

Progress:

  • Complete:
    • All bunk beds removed from all cells in HMP & YOI Polmont where a young person might be accommodated.
    • There are no bunk beds in place in HMP & YOI Stirling.

Recommendation 2 (Katie & William FAI): Remove and replace door stops with anti-ligature designs.

RAGRatings:
Timeline showing the reported RAG ratings for each month. The RAG rating has been Blue for each month, June, September, December and February.

Progress:

  • Complete:
    • All door stops of the type identified, and those of a similar design, have been removed from cells in Polmont where a young person in housed.
    • Door stops which remain are either sloping or positioned in a way which cannot be used as a ligature point.
    • Wider work ongoing to assess the physical environment of all prisons across the SPS estate.

Recommendation 3 (Katie & William FAI) & Recommendation 1 (Jack McKenzie FAI): Develop a standardised anti-ligature toolkit for auditing cells for the presence of anchor points; complete audits across all standard cells; and take necessary actions to address identified issues.

RAGRatings:
Timeline showing the reported RAG ratings for each month. The RAG rating has been Amber-Green for each month, June, September, December and February.

Progress:

  • Complete:
    • SPS has developed a proof of concept risk assessment toolkit to audit cells for the presence of ligature anchor points.
    • Pilot of toolkit conducted in HMP & YOI Polmont in September 2025.
  • Ongoing:
    • The findings from the Pilot, along with external research which SPS have commissioned, will help inform next steps.
    • Continued engagement with key stakeholders to inform the work, including NHS and ligature experts.
    • Source and test alternative furniture to support a reduced ligature environment.
    • HMPs Stirling, Glasgow and Highland, as well as the Community Custody Units, were designed at the time with the best available advice on mitigations for ligature points. Developing work around the ligature toolkit and ligature audits will also be incorporated where possible for new or refurbished cells.

Recommendation 4 (Katie & William FAI): Pilot and review 'signs of life' technology.

RAGRatings:
Timeline showing the reported RAG ratings for each month. The RAG rating has been Amber-Green for each month, June, September, December and February.

Progress:

  • Complete:
    • Engagement with possible suppliers of ‘signs of life’ technology and market research carried out.
    • Technology from three suppliers installed in selected cells across HMP & YOIs Polmont and Stirling from August 2025.
    • Phase 1 of the Pilot to test device accuracy and responsiveness, gather user feedback and train staff has concluded and a report provided to Ministers.
  • Ongoing:
    • Phase 2 of the Pilot to test devices in a live operational trial, on a voluntary basis.
    • Learning from the Pilot will inform next steps.

Recommendation 5 (Katie & William FAI): Review and revise 'items in use' policy.

RAGRatings:
Timeline showing the reported RAG ratings for each month. Initial RAG in June was Amber-Red before changing to Amber-Green in September. It was been Amber-Red for both December and February.

Progress:

  • Complete:
    • SPS has set up a working group to review the ‘items in use’ policy.
    • Engagement with stakeholders across other custodial and state-care environments to review ‘items in use’ lists.
    • Removal of specific personal items including dressing gown cords and belts.
  • Ongoing:
    • SPS considering commissioning research to better understand potential wider impacts of removing personal items from young people.
    • Learnings from this research, as well as wider reforms including the new approach to suicide prevention, will inform a trauma-informed approach to implementation which balances safety with wellbeing.
    • Ongoing work to explore suitable alternatives to specific items.

Recommendation 6 (Katie & William FAI): Research alternative bedding materials and review use in standard cells.

RAGRatings:
Timeline showing the reported RAG ratings for each month. Initial RAG of Amber-Green in June decreased to Green in September and December. Marked Blue for February.

Progress:

  • Complete:
    • SPS has commissioned and completed a research project into bedding options.
    • Engagement with stakeholders from other jurisdictions and state hospitals.
    • Paper published and provided to Cabinet Secretary outlining findings.
  • Ongoing:
    • Ongoing consideration of alternative options which balance safety with trauma-informed care.

Recommendation 2 (Jack Mckenzie FAI): Remove and replace/modify toilet cubicle doors with anti-ligature designs.

RAGRatings:
Timeline showing the reported RAG ratings for each month. This recommendation was not tracked in June and subsequent RAGS were Amber-Green in September, Amber-Red in December and most recently Green for February.

Progress:

  • Complete:
    • Ablution doors removed from all 12 transition cells which are used by young people in HMP & YOI Polmont (those used in the first 72 hours from admission).
    • Procurement exercise competed to source reduced-ligature replacement ablution doors for these cells.
    • Replacement doors installed in all 12 transitional cells.
  • Ongoing:
    • Assessment of suitability of these doors for use in this environment.

Recommendation 6 (Jack McKenzie FAI): Conduct visual hatch checks near end of night shifts.

RAGRatings:
Timeline showing the reported RAG ratings for each month. This recommendation was not tracked in June and subsequent RAGS were Green in September and December and Amber-Green in February.

Progress:

  • Complete:
    • SPS has established a working group to explore operational feasibility, legal implications, best practice from other jurisdictions and human rights implications.
  • Ongoing:
    • Completion of Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment.
    • Findings to be reported to Ministers which will inform next steps.

Contact

Email: oversight.implementation.unit@gov.scot

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