THE parents of a young woman who took her own life in Polmont Young Offenders Institution say they are “fed up” with apologies and want “action” to prevent any more needless deaths in custody.

The remarks came today as the families of Katie Allan, 21, and William Lindsay, 16 — who died within months of each other in 2018 at Polmont — prepared to meet SNP Justice Secretary Angela Constance ahead of her statement to Holyrood on planned reforms.

Ms Allan, a student at Glasgow University, was found dead on June 4 while serving a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury.

Mr Lindsay, who had a history of attempts on his own life, died on October 7 three days after being sent to Polmont, for want of a space in a children’s unit.

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into their deaths last year resulted in 25 recommendations from Sheriff Simon Collins, ranging from improved information sharing to an overhaul of the Scottish Prison Service’s (SPS) anti-bullying and its Talk To Me (TTM) suicide prevention programme.

Speaking at a short press conference ahead of the meeting, Ms Allan’s parents Linda and Stuart said “now is the time” for action to make Scottish prisons safer.

Mr Allan said: “We’re fed up with sorrys and apologies etc for the deaths of Katie and William.

“Now is the time we actually want to see some action.”

Noting suicides in Scotland’s prisons had steadily grown in the decade up to 2022 to account for 30 per cent of all deaths — Ms Allan added: “The TTM strategy has actually increased suicides across the Scottish prison estate rather than reduced them.

“It’s not worth the paper it’s written on.”

Accusing SPS of hiding behind crown immunity, the families’ lawyer Aamer Anwar said: “They are guilty of corporate homicide.

“We’ll be interested to hear today from the minister how far they’ve got with the UK government with regards to lifting of crown immunity.”

As the families looked on, Ms Constance told MSPs representations to the UK government on crown immunity had so far been met with silence, but insisiting progress had been made.

She added: “Prisons must be safe and rehabilitative and SPS must foster a culture of respect and safety.

“I can assure Parliament that we will continue to drive forward change and strengthen accountability.

“This about changing the system and the culture that underpins it.”