British G4S private prison scandals

This video from Britain is called Vote for G4S as worst company of the year.

By Ryan Fletcher in Britain:

Inspectors Lay Into G4S-run Prison Over Levels Of Violence And Self-harm

Tuesday 8th October 2013

G4S has suffered another blow to its credibility after inspectors slammed a company-run prison

Dodgy security giant G4S has suffered another blow to its credibility after inspectors slammed a company-run prison.

HMP Oakwood in Wolverhampton, the largest facility in Britain with 1,600 prisoners, had inexperienced staff and high levels of violence and self-harm, HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) said following a surprise visit.

In addition, the jail – dubbed “Jokewood” – urgently needed to address its approach to its near-300 sex offenders, many of whom were due for release without their offending having been addressed.

G4S was recently referred to the Serious Fraud Office for overcharging the government for tagging criminals and was heavily criticised last year for its botched handling of the Olympics security contract.

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The inspection found there was clear evidence of drug and alcohol use, lack of access to basic facilities, and “very poor” health care.

Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said: “Last autumn, the Justice Secretary hailed the G4S-run prison, boasting a cost per prison place per year around one third of the national average, as an example of what the private sector could achieve in prisons. And indeed it is.

“Slashing prison budgets while warehousing ever greater numbers overseen by largely inexperienced staff has come at a dangerous cost. This prison is not a model for the future but a warning.”

Despite G4S‘s retinue of mistakes Justice Secretary Chris Grayling still intends to allow the company to bid for probation service contracts worth £450 million.

Related articles

• HMP Oakwood condemned by inspectors (belfasttelegraph.co.uk)
• Private prison severely criticised (bbc.co.uk)
• Prisoners at privately run Oakwood jail ‘can get drugs but not soap’ (theguardian.com)
• G4S Oakwood: Grayling’s favourite prison damned by inspection report (economicvoice.com)
• HMP Oakwood slammed by prison inspectors (itv.com)
• Jail with drugs but no soap! Inspectors say one of Britain’s biggest prisons is so badly run one in seven inmates became an addict (dailymail.co.uk)