Reliance loses out on prisoner contract

Published on Monday 14 March 2011 18:39

RELIANCE has suffered a major blow after losing the contract for providing court custody and prisoner transport to rival security firm G4S

The seven-year contract, which begins in January 2012, includes the escorting of all prisoners in mainland Scotland and the islands, between prisons, police stations and courts as well as all external visits, including to hospitals.

Russell Hobbs, managing director of G4S Court Services, said: "G4S has unrivalled expertise in the care and transport of prisoners, and we were the first private company to take over court services from the public sector in England and Wales in 1993."

Reliance took on the role of escorting prisoners for the whole of Scotland in February 2005 in a contract worth 126 million.

Meanwhile, justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has been criticised for keeping the contract in private hands, despite previously saying that jails "are for public safety, not private profit", while in opposition.

Labour's justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "This is gross hypocrisy from Kenny MacAskill."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "This is an operational matter for the Scottish Prison Service."