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<p>The Prisoner Escort Custody Service (PECS), which is part of the National Offender
Management Service, is responsible for the movement of prisoners between prisons,
police stations and courts and their care and security while in court custody. PECS
manages the secure escort contracts covering all those sent to custody in the prison
estate, apart from Category A prisoners.</p><p> </p><p>However, there are occasions
when the prison service may make use of taxis to provide prisons with a cost-effective,
flexible way of fulfilling transport requirements for prisoners where there is a strong
operational justification for doing so. This is an economical mode of transport (particularly
in comparison with using cellular vehicles or purchasing cars). It reduces potential
overhead costs for prisons, such as maintenance and cleaning, which have an impact
on staff time. Prisons are able to access this form of transport at short notice,
in response to urgent requirements</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The table
below shows the total amount of cost of hiring transport, including taxis, for prisoners
for financial year 2013-14 for public sector prisons in England and Wales.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Transport
Hire Costs for Prisoners </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>£3,417,595</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>To note within
the table:</em></p><p>1. It is important to note that the charges for Taxis used for
medical escorts are reimbursed by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). PCTs have the commissioning
and funding responsibility for all medical escorts and bedwatches for prisons but
exclude Open prisons, Immigration Remand Centres and prisons in Wales.</p><p> </p><p>2.
The figure for financial year 2013-14 is extracted from our central accounting code
and include costs of hiring transport e.g. taxis, coaches, mini-buses etc. for taking
prisoners to court and for all other escorts including bedwatches, funeral escorts
and regime activities not in official vehicles. Also, the figure has been drawn from
NOMS central accounting records, which, as with any large scale recording system,
are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.</p><p> </p><p>3. Private
Prisons are excluded.</p><p> </p>
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