Audit Scotland slams prison service
Audit Scotland has criticised the Scottish Prison Service for failing to plan what to do if the company providing a prison-to-court escort service defaults or is sacked.
Link: Scottish audit body promotes whistleblowing
Scottish Auditor General Robert Black was called in after Reliance, who won the seven-year £126m outsourcing contract, admitted responsibility for 12 of 23 prisoners released in error from the Glasgow court system earlier this year.
He revealed that of three companies left in the running, Reliance came out worst in a technical evaluation. But the company was cheapest on cost and judged best value overall.
The report nevertheless found SPS had followed procurement regulations in the tendering process and is actively monitoring the company’s performance.