Serco wins prison contract

5th Jul 2010 07:14

Outsourcing specialist Serco has won a long term contract to provide and operate a new prison at Belmarsh West, London. This is the first prison contract to be awarded in the UK to an alliance of the private and voluntary sectors. Serco's partners in the project are Turning Point, a health and social care social business, and Catch 22, an organisation that runs specialist projects focused on young people in difficult situations. The contract has a value to Serco of about £415m, and will run for 26½ years.Construction works will begin right away, with completion expected in the first half of 2012.Serco had previously announced its selection, in June 2009, as the preferred bidder to provide and operate two new prisons at Belmarsh West, London and Maghull, Liverpool. It is intended that the contract to provide and operate the prison at Maghull will be signed later this year.