Death of Andy Selmour at Melrose Prison: Investigation Reveals a Series of Failures
The death of Andy Selmour, which occurred on Tuesday, December 9, at Melrose Prison, raises serious questions about emergency management in a facility described as high-security. The 33-year-old inmate was violently attacked by several fellow inmates for nearly fifteen minutes, without immediate intervention from the guards to stop the assault.
More than ten days after the tragedy, the police have made no arrests. The investigation, conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Eastern Division, reveals a series of failures.
On that day, at Kestrel Yard, Andy Selmour was confronted by at least four fellow inmates seen on surveillance footage. The extremely violent assault took place under the watch of cameras. According to initial findings collected by the CID, screams and insults coming from Kestrel Yard were heard on the recordings. During his hearing, a surveillance section official claimed to have immediately raised the alarm from the CCTV Control Room as soon as he noticed the attack.
However, by the time the guards arrived, the injured inmate had already been evacuated by his attackers to a "safer" location. They allegedly administered a substance, possibly a drug, as he writhed in pain.
The lapse of time between the alert and the effective intervention raises concerns among investigators. The on-duty guards are being scrutinized for an alleged lack of promptness. The investigation seeks to understand why they did not intervene more quickly to assist the inmate. The police are trying to determine whether there were systemic failures, acts of negligence, or professional misconduct during the intervention.
This tragedy, however, reveals the limitations of surveillance systems in a high-security center. Despite the presence of around 400 cameras, coordination and rapid response remain weak links. In the case of Andy Selmour, these failures had irreversible consequences.
Around 5 PM on the day of the incident, Andy Selmour was transferred to the Medical Ward (infirmary). Unfortunately, the daytime nurse had completed their shift, leaving him without assistance until the arrival of a replacement about 90 minutes later. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
As of now, the review of the camera footage and interrogations are ongoing. The four identified inmates have been transferred to other correctional facilities pending their official hearing by the CID.
