Crime pays for Reliance
3 Dec 04
Reliance has reported a rise in profits after overcoming 'teething problems'
Controversial security firm Reliance, which hit the headlines for mistakenly releasing prisoners due to appear in Scottish courts, said yesterday it has put its early difficulties behind it.
It reported a 13% rise in pre-tax profits for the six months to October 29 to £6.8m across its UK operations.
The firm has made a number of high profile blunders since it started prisoner escort duty in Scotland, including the release of a convicted killer only months into the contract.
Last month one of its own officers was attacked with a knife at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
However the company said the poor publicity was unjustified, while the Scottish Prison Service said it had been satisfied with the improvement in Reliance's performance.