Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Department is taking to ensure that prisoners are delivered on time to Warwick Crown Court for trials.

Timely delivery of prisoners is essential to the effective operation of the courts. Geo Amey Ltd, the supplier that provides prisoner escort and custody services in the West Midlands, is contractually required to deliver prisoners in time for their scheduled hearing where the movement has been properly notified, and the prisoner is ready and available for collection.

Geo Amey’s delivery of prisoners to court is monitored through contractual performance measures, supplier management information and Court Exception Reports, which are used by H M Courts and Tribunals Service to record delays affecting court proceedings. H M Prison & Probation Service regularly assesses supplier performance and, where performance falls below the required standard, oversees improvement plans and targeted assurance activity. Where delays are attributable to Geo Amey, contractual remedies, including service credits, are applied in accordance with the contract.

In the year to 30 September 2026, 13 Court Exception Reports were generated in relation to Warwick Crown Court. In one of these cases, the delay was attributable to Geo Amey. These reports record instances where delays have affected court business, but do not distinguish between different types of hearings. It is therefore not possible to determine how many relate specifically to trials