GEOAmey’s Court Custody and Prisoner Escort Services Contract

That the Parliament expresses its concern at the findings of the Audit Scotland report of December 2023, which outlines what it considers to be failures on the part of GEOAmey in delivering its contractual obligations for Scottish Court Custody and Prisoner Escort Services; understands that the PCS and GMB trade unions have expressed concern at what they regard as endemic failings on the part of GEOAmey in relation to the contract; further understands that the PCS union has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to present evidence on these matters; notes the reported concerns of solicitors that a lack of custody staff is leading to delays in courts across Scotland; further notes with concern that GEOAmey is reportedly no longer being fined for contractual breaches; believes that insufficient staffing levels compromise the safety of workers in the justice system, jurors and the wider public; notes that GEOAmey’s contract is worth hundreds of millions of pounds, and calls on the Scottish Government to review GEOAmey’s contractual obligations with a view to taking further action.