Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
SNP Deputy Shadow Justice Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP, today (Friday) called for the Executive to take immediate action to end the holding children at the Polmont Young Offenders Institute.
Mr Stevenson made the call after it emerged that 11 children had been held at the institute in the last year, more than 12 months after inspectors advised against the policy.
Mr Stevenson said:
“It totally unacceptable that children under the age of 16 are being held at the Polmont Young Offenders Institute and this shows the Executive’s assertion that it is providing more secure accommodation places for children up for the lie that it is.
“The UN states that a child must only be imprisoned 'as a last resort' and locking young children up in institutions like Polmont could cause incalculable harm.
“The best interests of these children must be the Executive’s primary consideration, and action must be taken immediately to stop young children being locked up.”
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
