Reliance loses £30m Scottish tagging deal

Published on 22/10/2005 00:44

SECURITY firm Reliance has lost the battle to win a £30 million contract to provide tagging in Scotland, it was disclosed yesterday.

The five-year deal will instead go to rival Serco, the Executive said.

Reliance holds the current contract, worth 14 million, which began in 2002 and which expires in May next year.

The Executive denied Reliance lost out because of well-publicised problems when it took over responsibility last year for court and prison escort duties in Scotland.

A spokesman said that both activities were carried out by different Reliance companies and the tagging decision had nothing to do with Reliance's escort duties.

Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, said: "The decision was based on a competitive tendering process and took full consideration of both quality of service and value for money.

"We look forward to a new partnership with Serco over the next few years which provides an efficient and effective service for the people of Scotland."

A subsidiary of Serco, Premier Custodial Services, operates Scotland's only private prison at Kilmarnock.

Serco already operates tagging services in Wales, the West Midlands, London and eastern England through another subsidiary, Premier Monitoring Services.

Its Scottish operation will be based in East Kilbride.

The contract will cover the full range of electronic monitoring in Scotland including Restriction of Liberty Orders, tagging as a condition of probation, the children's hearing system and home detention curfews.