This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New prison escorting arrangements
12/04/2004
Roll-out of new prison escorting arrangements across
Scotland will be dependent on assurances from the Scottish
Prison Service that problems in the first phase have been
addressed, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson confirmed
today.
Speaking after holding face to face talks with the SPS,
Reliance, police and court officials in Glasgow, the
Minister said she was looking for 'progress in days not
weeks'.
She will meet again with SPS Chief Executive Tony
Cameron at the end of this week to review the
situation.
Ms Jamieson said:
"The events of the past week have shaken public
confidence. We must act together, and act quickly, to
address that. Problems identified over the last week must
be solved.
"I have had a detailed and very direct meeting today
with all those concerned. No one should be in any doubt
about the seriousness with which the Executive views the
situation - nor our determination to see this sorted.
"I have received assurances from the Scottish Prison
Service and from Reliance that steps have been taken to
minimise a repeat of last week's problems. Procedures,
including identification checks, have been reviewed and
revamped. There will be additional trained staff from
Reliance on hand this week to handle the expected workload,
and more involvement of senior Reliance management to
ensure more effective operation of the contract.
"Senior Scottish Prison Service staff will also be on
hand to monitor the situation. Representatives of
Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Court Service have also
re-affirmed their commitment to working with Reliance and
others to resolve problems.
"I expect to see a significant improvement next week and
I will be meeting again with the Scottish Prison Service at
the end of this week to review the situation. Progress must
be achieved in days not weeks if we are to restore public
confidence. And we clearly need to get arrangements right
in this first phase before these arrangements can be rolled
out elsewhere.
"I am making it clear today that there will be no
further geographical roll-out of the contract until I have
had a personal assurance from the Chief Executive of the
SPS that he is satisfied that the contract is being
successfully delivered in the courts involved in this first
phase."