Reliance wins longer deal to monitor tagged criminals

Published on 11/01/2005 01:16

PRIVATE security firm Reliance is to have its contract for monitoring adults sentenced to electronic tagging extended, officials said yesterday.

The contract began in January 2002 and was meant to last three years with options for a one-year extension.

Justice minister Cathy Jamieson announced the one-year extension and added that the contract would also be broadened.

As well as monitoring tagged adult offenders, the contract will also extend to monitoring a pilot scheme for using tagging as a condition of bail, and the pilot tagging of under-16s who would otherwise be in secure accommodation under anti-social behaviour legislation.

Reliance was at the centre of controversy last year after it took over prisoner escort duties from police at Scotland’s courts.

The start of the handover was bedevilled by a spate of mistaken releases and escapes.

The tagging contract is thought to be worth up to 8.2 million this year, depending on the numbers tagged.

The Executive also announced that it is to mount a competitive tendering exercise for a new contract to provide electronic tagging from April 2006.