Prisoner escort services
GSL has unrivalled experience in the UK in providing prisoner escort services since 1992. In 2004 GSL was selected to operate this service for two of the four new contract areas for the National Offender Management Service. GSL now makes more than 670,000 prisoner movements per year escorting prisoners from prisons, courts and polices stations in England & Wales.
Previously undertaken by the prison service and police, there have been significant cost savings to government and an impressive reduction in escapes in England and Wales. Independent statistics show that GSL service is both more secure and less expensive than when the service was provided by the previous providers.
We are proud of our achievements especially in the areas of human rights and health and safety where in collaboration with others through planned thematic audits we
Inter-prison movements
GSL were successful in being awarded the inter-prison movement contract in 1999 and we have operated a very successful contract since then. 75,000 prisoner movements are undertaken per annum to move prisoners from the local prisons to ensure there is enough room for the prisoners from court. In addition, movements are undertaken for family reasons or for specific courses as well as transfers to lower security establishments as part of the sentence progression.
Our contract was successfully extended in April 2006 and it also undertakes movements outside England and Wales to the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Northern Ireland. These transfers also utilise planes as well as the types of vehicles used for the prisoner escorting and court services contracts and ferries are used for the establishments on the Isle of Wight.
Australia
GSL’s prisoner transportation service manages the transport of prisoners in Victoria and currently carries out more than 36,000 movements a year in purpose-designed and built vehicles. Contract monitors are appointed by Corrections Victoria, and the Victoria Police oversee the contract.
The contract for South Australia prisoner movement and in-court management (SAPMICM) is the first of its type to be operated by the private sector in Australia. Commencing in December 1996 the contract has now been extended to 2007.
More than 70,000 tasks are completed each year in South Australia incorporating the duties formerly undertaken by the Sheriff's Department, the Department of Correctional Services, the South Australia Police and the Department of Human Services.
GSL and the South Australian Government work in unison to select staff for the SAPMICM contract. The uniqueness of this contract requires that GSL officers be appointed as both Officers of the Crown and Sheriff's Officers.
