Britain to take over Birmingham prison permanently from G4S
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS APRIL 1, 2019 / 12:40 PM / UPDATED 8 HOURS AGO
Britain to take over Birmingham prison permanently from G4S
EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Britains government will from July 1 permanently take over the running of Birmingham Prison from private operator G4S after inmate violence made the prison unmanageable.
The government took control from G4S, the worlds largest security company, last summer. The central England prison for 1,200 inmates, built in the 19th century, was deemed then by the chief inspector of prisons Peter Clarke to be operating in squalid conditions.
The transfer on a permanent basis is in the best interests of the company and its staff, G4S prison services manager Jerry Petherick said.
Birmingham is an inner-city remand prison which faces exceptional challenges including high levels of prisoner violence towards staff and fellow prisoners, Petherick said in a statement.
The crisis is the latest challenge in Britains outsourcing sector after the collapse of contractor Carillion increased scrutiny of the governments long practice of tendering public services to private sector operators.
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