21st Oct 2005 09:29
Serco signs ‚£30m contract to monitor offenders in Scotland and is appointed preferred bidder for ‚£29m prison development Serco Group plc ("Serco" or "the Group") today announces that it has beenawarded a five-year contract by the Scottish Executive to deliver electronicmonitoring of offenders throughout the country.The five-year contract is valued at around ‚£30m and is due to start in April2006. At the end of the five-year period the contract may be extended for afurther two years.Serco will enhance value for money for the Scottish Executive by investing inemployees' skills and integrating innovative new technology, sourced throughits subsidiary Premier Geografix.The group already monitors offenders in two regions of England and Wales andsupplies monitoring equipment to governments in Australia, South Africa, Italy,British Columbia and Newfoundland.Serco has been appointed preferred bidder to manage the construction andoperation of a 120-bed houseblock at Lowdham Grange prison in Nottinghamshire .Serco already runs Lowdham Grange under a contract with the Home Office , whichhas 18 years remaining. The new contract, which is subject to planningpermission, is valued at ‚£29m over 18 years.The home affairs market is of growing significance to Serco and these newopportunities follow the UK government selecting the Group for a ‚£100m contractto provide solutions to help detect the illicit importation of radiologicalsubstances at UK ports of entry.Chris Hyman, Chief Executive of Serco Group plc said: "We are very pleased thatthe Scottish Executive has chosen us to deliver this important service for thepeople of Scotland. Serco will deliver an efficient, effective electronicmonitoring service that contributes to reducing offending and improving publicsafety."We are enhancing our reputation for building partnerships that deliverreliable, innovative and value for money services and this is reflected in therecent decisions by the Scottish Executive to engage us and by the Home Officeto extend our work on their behalf."EndsFor further information, contact T +44 (0) 1256 745 900:Richard Hollins, Head of Investor RelationsDominic Cheetham, Director of Corporate CommunicationsNotes to editors:Serco is a leading international service company, operating in a range ofsectors, including home affairs, defence and aerospace, IT services, education,local government, transport, science and health. More information can be foundat www.serco.com.Serco delivers a broad range of specialist services across the home affairsarena including custody, community monitoring of offenders, prisoner escorting,ICT and infrastructure support and homeland defence solutions.ENDSERCO GROUP PLCRelated Shares:
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