Prisoner transfer firm, GeoAmey, paid out £5 million to shareholders despite facing massive fines over system failures, as reported by the Sunday Mail. The company, responsible for over 14,000 delays in criminal hearings, distributed significant dividends to shareholders. GeoAmey, holding a £238 million contract to escort prisoners, has already been fined £4 million for performance issues and received financial support from the Scottish Government to address service deficiencies.
In newly published accounts, it was revealed that GeoAmey paid dividends of £5 million to shareholders in 2023, while six senior management members collectively earned £846,000. Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson, Liam McArthur MSP, condemned the company’s actions, calling for accountability from the Justice Secretary to ensure a reliable justice system.
The firm’s annual revenue for 2023 was £108.2 million, with a profit after tax of £3.7 million, marking an increase from the previous year. Audit Scotland reported limited impact from Scottish Prison Service actions to improve GeoAmey’s performance. Staff shortages and labour market issues have led to delays, with over 14,000 late prisoner arrivals between April and September last year.
Asked about the accounts, GeoAmey stated its commitment to providing secure services and working with stakeholders to enhance service quality. The Scottish Prison Service highlighted improvements in staffing levels and service performance following contract recalibration with GeoAmey. Justice Secretary Angela Constance emphasised the government’s monitoring of contract performance to meet expectations and ensure a high-quality service for Scotland’s justice system.
The struggle with staff shortages, delays in court proceedings, and concerns about service quality persist, prompting calls for increased accountability and improvement within the justice system. Despite financial distributions to shareholders, the focus remains on addressing operational challenges and delivering a reliable and efficient service to meet public expectations and uphold justice standards.