Serco awarded electronic monitoring contract
21 Oct 05
Executive announces new provider for tagging services
Serco Ltd has been awarded the contract for providing electronic tagging services in Scotland.
The win comes at the expense of private security firm Reliance, which is currently responsible for tagging operations in Scotland, as well as for prisoner transpor to and from court. Serco runs Kilmarnock prison, the only privately run prison in Scotland.
The contract applies to restriction of liberty orders, electronic monitoring as a condition of probation or drug treatment and testing orders, tagging as a condition of release on licence, and electronic monitoring in the children's hearing system. If Parliament agrees the relevant legislation, it will also apply to home detention curfews.
The contract - valued at £30 million - begins on 1 April 2006 and will run for five years. Serco already provides electronic monitoring services in Wales, the West Midlands, London and the east of England, through its subsidiary Premier Monitoring Services.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "Tagging restricts people to their homes, limiting the opportunities for re-offending, while offering them the stability of remaining with their family, who can give support to help break an offending lifestyle.
"Following careful consideration, the Executive has decided to award the contract for providing electronic monitoring services to Serco Ltd. The decision was based up a competitive tendering process and took full consideration of both quality of service and value for money."