The Serious Fraud Office has opened a criminal investigation into G4S and Serco electronic monitoring contracts. Sadiq Khan MP for Labour, Shadow Justice Secretary, responding, said: “The decision by the Serious Fraud Office to launch an investigation into the G4S tagging contract is a major development. In July I wrote to the SFO, calling on them to investigate claims against G4S and to act swiftly to secure any possible evidence that might be needed. I hope that the time taken to launch this investigation hasn’t resulted in the loss of important evidence.
“With future Ministry of Justice contracts up for grabs, including more than £600m of probation contracts, the Government must act swiftly and bar G4S from bidding for any more until the SFO has concluded its investigation. By failing to do so, David Cameron risks undermining public confidence in our justice system.”
Serco confirmed that it will cooperate fully with the SFO investigation. Likewise G4S confirmed that on November 4 it received notice that the Director of the SFO has opened an investigation into the “contract for the provision of electronic monitoring services which commenced in April 2005 as amended and extended until the present day”.
G4S has confirmed to the SFO that it will co-operate fully with the investigation.
