A 17-year-old has died at a young offenders establishment two years after the Government pledged to stop sending people under 18 years old to the institution.

Jonathan Beadle died in Polmont Young Offenders Institution on Saturday.

His address was recorded as "of HMP & YOI Polmont" but no further details about his death were provided.

The youngster was previously in a secure children’s unit before being moved to Polmont.

Young people aged 16 and 17 are supposed to be placed in secure accommodation rather than YOIs under the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, which became law last month.

In March 2022, the Scottish government said that under-18s would no longer be sent to young offender institutions.

It came after a damning review in 2020 found that putting 16 and 17-year-olds in prison environments was "deeply inappropriate".

A Scottish Government spokesperson has previously said: "This Bill aims to end the placement of under-18s in young offenders institutions, with secure accommodation being the normal place of detention instead.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Trans double-murderer caught having sex with female inmate after being placed in women's prisonRotherham taxi driver jailed for raping young girls over two decades agoLucy Letby: Convicted child serial killer found guilty of attempted murder of premature baby girl

"The decision on whether to detain a child remains with the independent judiciary.

"On turning 18, young people who have a significant part of their sentence still to serve will be transferred to prison."

On Wednesday, a Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: "Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.

"Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised and the matter reported to the procurator fiscal. Fatal accident inquiries are held in due course."

The Bill was introduced after William Lindsay, 16, and Katie Allan, 21 both took their own lives in separate incidents at Polmont YOI within months of each other in 2018.

Victims and community safety minister Siobhian Brown said: "Every death in custody is a tragedy and I extend my deepest condolences to Jonathan’s family. As a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

"The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act, which received royal assent on June 4, includes provisions to end the placement of under-18s in young offenders institutions.

"We are working with the Scottish Prison Service and secure accommodation providers to commence these provisions shortly. The decision on whether to detain a child remains with the independent judiciary."