Update on South Yorkshire prisons

Serco Group plc (Serco), the international service company, notes the announcement today by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) that, for operational reasons, the South Yorkshire group of prisons will remain under public sector management.  We understand that the urgent need for change at these prisons means that the typical six-month period of mobilisation and transition to the private sector would not be in the best operational interest of the prisons.

Ed Casey, Acting Group CEO, said: "From meetings with the UK Government it is clear that the operational needs of the prisons will be best served by the necessary changes being implemented without further delay.  We are also continuing to make good progress across the various audits, reviews and our proposed corporate renewal programme within the timing previously communicated by Government."