News / Sheriff angry as G4S fails to deliver yet again
SHETLAND MSP Tavish Scott has called for an inquiry to be held into why security firm G4S has twice this week failed to deliver prisoners to Lerwick Sheriff Court on time.
The company came under fire from Sheriff Philip Mann after four men ended up late for appearances at the court on Wednesday and Thursday.
The sheriff described the situation as “highly unsatisfactory” and ordered a company representative to appear before him on 5 August to explain why three prisoners held on the Scottish mainland have not been flown to the isles in time for their court appearance.
If G4S is to be found to be in contempt of court, it will be fined on each case separately, the sheriff warned.
Scott said in a statement that he shares sheriff Mann’s “irritation” that G4S has “cost the court both valuable time and money”.
“I will be writing to the Scottish Justice Minister, Michael Matheson urging him to start an inquiry into these failings,” the Liberal Democrat said.
“I am disappointed that despite the SNP mantra to keep services in public hands, they appointed G4S despite the company’s many public failings.
“This is not the first time that Lerwick Sheriff Court has been disrupted by G4S’ inability to carry out their contractual duties. Everyone also remembers the shambles of security at the London Olympics.
“I do not understand why, if G4S were not suitable to help run the successful commonwealth games in Glasgow, the justice system in Shetland should continue to suffer from a sub-standard service. It is time the SNP Government looked into their own responsibilities”.
On Thursday morning it transpired that Owen Haughian, Justin Lean and Anthony McCormick, all appearing from custody in separate cases, would not be at court much before midday, two hours after proceedings had begun.
The sheriff also voiced his dissatisfaction when it emerged that G4S had booked return flights for the afternoon, giving hardly enough time for all cases to be dealt with.
On Wednesday, court proceedings were held up when G4S was late in taking Jamie Neill from custody to court.
In a statement the company said it was not always possible to book prisoners on the first flight from Aberdeen to Shetland.
A spokesman said in relation to Thursday’s prisoners: “We had to transfer three prisoners from HMP Grampian to Shetland on flights from Aberdeen airport and it’s often the case there are not sufficient seats available on early morning flights for both prisoners and the requisite number of staff required to transport them.
“In these situations we have no choice but to fly prisoners when capacity allows and the court was informed of that decision.”
Referring to Wednesday’s case, the company spokesman added: “HMP Grampian is an hour from Aberdeen airport and consequently prisoners are required to leave the prison at 4.30am to make early morning flights.
“In exceptional circumstances prisoners may be placed on later flights for welfare reasons, and in this instance the court was informed of that decision.”
Asked whether the prisoners could be transferred by ferry instead in such instaces, the G4S spokesman said they had “examined the ferry as an option and timed the journey at around 14 hours if everything went to plan”.
“However given that there is no overnight accommodation available at Lerwick and that prisoners could claim that they were not fit to appear if kept awake on the journey by bad weather, it was not deemed a practical option.”
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