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.
Unite regional officer Caren Evans said: “We welcome the news that the Ministry of Justice has decided to terminate G4S’ Birmingham contract. It was almost inevitable following the chief inspector of prisons Peter Clarke’s damning report into its appalling stewardship of the prison.
“Prisons minister Rory Stewart pledged last summer that he would resign if he had not managed to reduce the level of drugs and violence in England’s prisons.
“Unite would suggest that one way that Rory Stewart can keep to his bold pledge is that all outsourced contracts relating to prisons in England are terminated as speedily as practical.
“Once again, the outsourcing model being imposed on public services has been found to be flawed and wanting – remember it was G4S that was responsible for the security shambles at the 2012 London Olympics.”
GMB Organiser George Georgiou added: “It’s good news that HMP Birmingham is back where it, and all prisons, belong – in public hands.
“The shocking way G4S ran HMP Birmingham into the ground is another damning indictment of privatisation in the prison and probation sector.
“GMB does not support these services being run by the private sector and calls for all probation services to be brought back in house as soon as possible.”
The government has made it clear it has no intention of scrapping the private sector model, with prisons minister Rory Stewart stating: "We need to be absolutely clear that we still believe in a mixed economy of providers with some of our private prisons among the best performing in the country.
“Indeed, G4S itself is running excellent prisons at Altcourse and Oakwood, and this Government believes passionately that private providers should continue to play a crucial role in our system.”
G4S confirmed to the Express & Star that the Birmingham announcement will have no impact on HMP Oakwood.
