G4S has won a contract to provide Electronic Monitoring (EM) equipment and services to the Department of Corrections in New Zealand.
G4S reports that it won the contract as a result of its wide-ranging international expertise managing EM programmes for governments in the UK, US, France, Netherlands, Austria and Israel.
The contract will be handled through G4S’s EM international division, which will work with local provider ICON Group. G4S will provide the equipment, monitoring system, support and training – drawn from its experience in this area – while under a sub-contract to G4S, ICON will provide staffing for the monitoring centre, logistics, equipment storage and reporting. The New Zealand Department of Corrections will manage the installation and recovery of equipment and response to any violations.
Community Detention (electronically monitored curfew) is a part of NZ’s Criminal Justice Reform Act 2006. Electronic monitoring will be used by the courts as an alternative sentencing option, on a standalone basis or with other community-based sentences.
The contract commences on 1 October and is worth a minimum of £3m over five years.
What they say
“We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious project which will play a key role in New Zealand’s revitalised criminal justice system. We are looking forward to working closely with the Department of Corrections and playing our part to help ensure the new Community Detention programme fulfils its potential” says Julian McGovern, G4S EM International Director.
“G4S is the largest provider of electronic monitoring equipment and services in the world which means we bring a wealth of experience to the programme. This latest contract builds on our heritage and further strengthens our business in the southern hemisphere.”
“We look forward to working closely with G4S on the development of our latest addition to our suite of electronic monitoring. The reputation of G4S and their broad experience in the EM business were factors in our decision to select G4S,” says Katrina Casey, general manager of the Department of Corrections’ Community Probation & Psychological Services.
