The news follows the recent decision by Lincolnshire Police to select G4S as preferred bidder to deliver many of its back and middle office functions from April.
Tom Wheatley joins G4S Policing Support Services as service delivery director for the Lincolnshire Police business transformation contract.
He moves to Policing Support Services from Custodial and Detention Services, where he has been director of the Category ‘B’ prison HMP Rye Hill in Rugby for the past 16 months.
Wheatley joined G4S in September 2010 after 16 years’ experience in HM Prison Service where he occupied a number of positions including Governor at HMP Nottingham from 2006-2008 and HMP Moorland from 2008-2010.
Sue Saunders succeeds Tom Wheatley as director at HMP Rye Hill. Sue has 21 years’ experience in the Prison Service and successfully governed two public sector prisons: HMP Bullingdon from 2002-2005 and HMP & YOI Holloway (2007-2010).
After joining G4S, Saunders was closely involved in preparing HMP Birmingham for the move over to private sector management last year, and was also involved in G4S’ successful bid to operate HMP Oakwood in Wolverhampton (which is due to open in April 2012).
Tom Wheatley told I4S: “I’very excited to be moving across to Policing Support Services at such an interesting time. The contract with Lincolnshire Police represents one of the most significant changes to the way in which modern police forces deliver their services, and is certain to be a landmark in modern British policing.”
He added: “I look forward to working with my team at G4S and at Lincolnshire Police to deliver efficient, cost-effective and improved services for the people of Lincolnshire while realising much-needed savings for the police and the taxpayer.”
Of her new role, Sue Saunders said: “I’m really delighted to have been asked to be the next director of HMP Rye Hill. While there are many impressive things about the prison we will want to build on there are also areas which we will need to work together on to improve. I relish the challenge and will do all that I can to make sure that the prison fulfils its full potential in reducing re-offending and keeping prisoners safe and secure, while at the same time giving every support to an excellent staff group who will deliver on our objectives.”
Committed to recognising and rewarding talent
Julian Duxfield, Human Resources director for G4S UK and Ireland, has welcomed the moves.
“As the UK’s largest private employer, G4S is committed to ensuring that talent is recognised and rewarded,” he stated. “Both Tom and Sue are enormously capable and experienced individuals and we are very lucky to have them on our team.”
He continued: “In the relatively short time both have been at G4S, they have demonstrated their skill in managing very challenging areas of work, as well as dealing successfully with the complexities of managing large teams of staff. I am confident they will excel in their new roles and provide top class leadership in the exciting months ahead.”
HMP Rye Hill is a Category ‘B’ training prison in the village of Willoughby, near Rugby in Warwickshire, and holds up to 625 sentenced male adults including 120 Life sentenced prisoners and 155 vulnerable prisoners.
The prison is operated under a 24-year PFI contract with the Ministry of Justice and the director – equivalent to a prison Governor in the Prison Service – is responsible for all aspects of delivery against the contract.
Announcement from the Secretary of State for Justice
The announcement to award the contracts to run HMP Birmingham and HMP Oakwood to G4S Care and Justice Services was made by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke in Parliament on 31 March last year. HMP Birmingham transferred over to G4S on 1 October 2011. HMP Oakwood is due to open in April 2012.
In December 2011, G4S was selected to deliver middle and back office functions for Lincolnshire Police – the first contract of its kind to be let by a British Police Authority.
From April 2012 G4S will be providing a range of functions formerly delivered by a combination of civilian employees and police officers. The contract, worth at least GB pound 200 million over the next ten years, represents the widest range of services ever offered in a single contract by a UK Police Authority, from HR to finance and from custody services to fleet management.
In total the Authority expects to make around GB pound 28 million in savings over the life of the contract.
