Unions: Bring private prisons back under public control
Union leaders have called for all private prisons to be brought back under public control following the government's takeover of HMP Birmingham.
The crisis-hit prison was being run by private contractor G4S before the government was forced to temporarily step in after an appalling inspection report.
Since then a break-clause has been found in G4S's 15-year contract which has allowed the prison service to take control of HMP Birmingham full-time, with the private contractor to pay £9.9 million for breaching certain contractual obligations.
Both parties state the decision was mutual.
In the wake of this, both Unite and GMB have called for all privately-run prisons, including HMP Oakwood in South Staffordshire, to come under public control.
