Landline in-cell phones could be provided at Polmont young offenders institution as part of a new trial following the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay while in custody there.

In a statement at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said introducing such technology could help to support the well-being of prisoners by making family contact significantly easier.

The Scottish Prison Service confirmed that a pilot on the in-cell phone scheme would take place and said such a service would be a "positive thing".

Mr Yousaf also confirmed the routine strip-searching of inmates younger than 18 would also end.

The move has been welcomed by the families of the two inmates, however they have criticised the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) for not acting sooner.

READ MORE: Parents of student Katie Allan who took life in Polmont say Scotland's 258 inmate deaths 'a massacre'

A review of mental health services for young people in custody, published earlier this year, made 80 recommendations, including the creation of a bespoke suicide and self-harm strategy.

The review was called after Katie Allan (below), 21, took her life while at the prison in June 2018.

The Herald:

Another inmate, 16-year-old William Brown - also known as William Lindsay - killed himself just 48 hours after being sent there on remand four months after the death of Ms Allan.

Aamer Anwar, the solicitor for the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay in welcoming the moves to end body-searches and introduce in-cell phones, said the review had exposed systematic failures at the heart of the prison regime in respect of mental health".

And he accused the SPS, the fatal accident inquiry system and Crown Office of failing to act on many recommendations made by inspectors over the course of a decade.

"Bullying, self-harm and strip searching is what defined Katie Allan's prison experience," Mr Anwar said.

"No one heart Katie or William's cries for help, we hope that the piloting of in-cell phones will mean that lives are saved.

READ MORE: Polmont governor vows to train staff to be mental-health first aiders

"The Cabinet Secretary today described the mental health review was substantial, but as the last decade has shown, hundreds of recommendations have been repeatedly ignored and the SPS has proved incapable of reforming itself.

"Had the SPS acted then they might have saved the lives of Katie Allan, William Lindsay and so many others."

Last month, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland Wendy Sinclair-Gieben told MSPs on Holyrood's Justice Committee that young offenders should be allowed to make phone calls from their cells to increase the support available to them when they are distressed.

At present, prisoners in Scotland can access telephones in communal areas at certain times only.

It has been suggested such technology could consist of cordless phones being installed in cells that would require offenders to dial in their PIN before they are able to make a call to numbers that have been agreed upon for them to use.

Mr Yousaf also confirmed SPS would commit to developing a new mental health strategy, which will include a bespoke plan for young people.

Mr Yousaf said: "Supporting positive family contact throughout someone's time in prison has wide-ranging benefits for that individual and their family, reducing the risk of reoffending and supporting positive relationships, which contribute to good mental health and mitigate vulnerability.

The Herald:

"With a view to supporting that, I can confirm that I have asked the Scottish Prison Service to explore the options for implementing a pilot of in-cell phones across HMYOI Polmont, with necessary controls in place.

"We will explore the options available as we take forward a pilot but we will ensure that the prison service retains control over the phone numbers prisoners can access and the ability to monitor calls."

He added: "It should not take tragedies like the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay for services to improve.

"I am deeply saddened by what happened to those two young people and by any life lost in our care.

"We know that young people who commit offences and become involved in the criminal justice system are also often the young people who have experienced multiple trauma and those who are the most vulnerable.

"It is our duty to ensure we do everything possible to help them rehabilitate where necessary and vitally, to keep them safe from harm during the time they are in our care."

An SPS spokesman said: "We welcome the announcement of in-cell telephony, which will be piloted.  We recognise that improving access to family contact, is a significant aid to health and well-being for people in custody.  It is a very positive thing.

"We have to go away and scope out what we need to make it possible and to go back to government to say how quickly it can be done, and what the cost will be."

He added: "We welcomed the report and agreed to implement the recommendations in the report.  Many of the things in the report were things we had already done, which included refresher training and mental health first aid with staff at Polmont.

"We take very seriously the responsibility towards those in our care. We don't decide who comes to our care, but we have to provide as best we can for all of them and we are committed to doing that and we will continue to seek to improve services we provide for everyone that comes into our care."

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur said: "Katie Allan and William Lindsay were tragically let down."

READ MORE: Ruth Davidson on mental health issues and how she battled depression

Linda Alan mother of Katie Allan said: "We have yet another inspection, but also a review of mental health and Polmont being described as a 'leading edge institution that Scotland can be proud of'.

"Yet with over 205 recommendations and suggested actions between the reports, I struggle as a grieving mother struggle to be proud. I still struggle to understand why Polmont was not placed on special measures immediately.

"As a mother I cannot change what happened...but we can try and change what may happen to young people in the future within Polmont.”