WIREDGOV

Private sector prisons are failing warned PCS, as it responded to the latest quarterly performance ratings for prisons in England and Wales.

The latest figures which mark prisons on a score from one to four, with four denoting exceptional performance, gave four of the eleven private prisons the low rating two.

A two rating denotes that they require development and significantly no private sector prison scored the top rating of four.

This contrasts with fifteen public sector prisons achieving the exceptional performance rating of four.

With England and Wales having the most privatised prison system in Europe, the union expressed concerns over plans for three new Titan super prisons, which the union fears will be given to the private sector.

Commenting, PCS negotiations officer for the prison service, said: "These ratings highlight that prisons run by the public sector consistently out-perform those that are privately managed which have a poor record at maintaining order and security.

"Privatisation is incompatible with reducing re-offending as it is not in the interests of the huge multinational private sector companies running prisons to see reductions in the prison population.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, added: "Private prisons constantly feature in some of the most critical reports by the Prisons Inspectorate and are reliant on using fewer staff, lower wages, less employment protection for staff to reap their profits.

"Private prisons and the desire of the privateers to build new prisons under premium PFI deals serve only to stifle meaningful debate about the current prison population crisis in England and Wales."