Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.More than half of the Government's contract spending on detention services went to just two firms, G4S and Serco, a report reveals today.
G4S was this month stripped of a key prison contract in the wake of its shambolic handling of Olympic security but the report reveals it won contracts for a third of spending on detention, surveillance, prisoner escort and deportation.
The report, by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, shows that out of £745m spent on contractors by the UK Border Agency and the National Offender Management Service between May 2010 and April 2011, G4S received £229m while £154m – one fifth – went to Serco.
Richard Garside, one of the report's authors, said: "For... two very large companies [to] hold more than half the contracts doesn't strike us as a particularly promising way of diversifying the market place." He said it was against the public interest to have a near-monopoly on "very lucrative contracts which are shrouded in commercial confidentiality".
Shadow Justice secretary Sadiq Khan said it emphasised the need for extending Freedom of Information so there was greater transparency.
Justice minister Jeremy Wright said new organisations were now competing in the market, adding: "Through competition we have secured significant cost reduction."
G4S declined to comment but said the contracts were awarded only after a comprehensive and transparent procurement process.
Serco said: "All our contracts have been awarded following competitions designed to deliver value for the customer."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments