UK security firm discovered transporting prisoners in taxis

A British security firm with a UK government contract worth a potential £420m (€481.4m) for transporting prisoners to court has been moving defendants about in black cabs.

Serco signed the seven-year deal in March. It is worth £42m (€48.1m) per annum to them and there is an option for a further three years.

However the company, whose deal covers London and the east of England, has recently been using scores of private taxis after a computer system organising pick-up and drop-off details failed.

The British Ministry of Justice confirmed that taxis were being used.