Ministerial Accountability Board: progress report - March 2026

5. Theme: Cell and Personal Safety

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

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.

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 might be accommodated.
  • 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.

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.
  • External research commissioned to evaluate the proof-of-concept, the software used and the use of audit tools more widely.
• Ongoing:
  • The findings from the pilot and external research are under consideration. This will help inform next steps and refine the risk assessment toolkit.
  • 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.

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.
  • Ethical approval received from the NHS Research & Ethics Committee.
• Ongoing:
  • Phase 2 of the pilot to test devices in a live operational trial, on a voluntary basis. This will run for six months, followed by a final evaluation and recommendations in Autumn 2026 to inform next steps.

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

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, belts and drawstrings from SPS-provided items.
• Ongoing:
  • Options appraisal and implementation plan to be shared with Ministers.
  • Commissioning targeted research to better understand the practical and psychological impacts of restricting items for young people in custody.
  • 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.

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

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 Ministers 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.

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. Only one reduced-ligature-compliant door type is compatible with the existing cubicle configuration and structural constraints of these cells.
  • Replacement doors installed in all 12 transitional cells.
• Ongoing:
  • Assessment of suitability of these doors for use in prison environment.
  • Exploring market interest in developing more robust, purpose-designed reduced-ligature doors for use in prison environments. These could be installed as more durable solutions and rolled out more widely.

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

Progress:

• Complete:
  • SPS has established a working group to explore operational feasibility, legal implications, best practice from other jurisdictions and human rights implications.
  • Completion of Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment.
• Ongoing:
  • Ensuring the work aligns with other areas of reform including the new suicide prevention approach and new bullying prevention strategy.
  • Consideration of viable alternative ways to provide assurance on safety with less disruption to the individual.
  • Options appraisal to be shared with Ministers which will inform next steps.