Mr Fairgrieve, 23, was found dead in his cell within HMP Perth on the morning of 13 September 2020. Mr Fairgrieve was in legal custody and in the care of the state at the time of his death.
In her determination, Sheriff Jennifer Bain made six recommendations for the Scottish Prison Service aimed at strengthening cell‑check procedures, improving training and supervision, and ensuring greater consistency between policy and practice to help reduce the risk of future deaths in custody.
These include revised national training developed with frontline input, clearer and more consistent guidance, mandatory record‑keeping of cell checks, regular refresher training, and increased oversight where CCTV is available.
The Procurator Fiscal, who acts in the public interest, led evidence on the facts and circumstances of Mr Fairgrieve’s death at the FAI in which other interested parties were represented.
Following publication of the determination, Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland’s independent deaths investigation authority, said:
“The sheriff makes recommendations aimed at reducing the risk of future deaths in custody and highlighting the importance of strengthening cell check procedures and improving training and supervision.
“The FAI followed a thorough and comprehensive investigation by the Procurator Fiscal who ensured that the full facts and circumstances of Mr Fairgrieve’s death were presented in evidence.”
Further information
For more information on Fatal Accident Inquiries, see the Crown’s guide.