Serco Group plc
3 November 2011
The reasons why Chris Dodd began investigating Serco:
"When I started this, the main questions I had were:
'Is it right that a private company can profit from tax payers money?'
'If Serco can run public services in a way that makes a profit, why can't local authorities?'
'What are Serco doing differently to make that profit?'
It really didn't make sense that a council could save money by outsourcing a public service - and that Serco can then turn that public service into a profit making enterprise. Something, somewhere had to change in the provision of that service, to have such an outcome.
The more I've looked into Serco, the more I'm concerned about the way they operate. Aside from the fact that outsourcing is often a one-way street (it's often very expensive to bring services back in-house), the contracts with Serco seem to be a way of a public body washing their hands of a service.
The PCT that awarded the Out of Hours GP service in Cornwall, relies on Serco to keep them updated about complaints relating to the service. They've just signed a new 5 year contract without knowing the full extent of how well Serco are operating the service. The Justice Department has no clue about the number of complaints that have been made against Serco in relation to the operation of their prisons, because Serco handle them in-house.
Serco, the company profiting from tax payers money, are not open to scrutiny as they do not fall within government transparency laws. When something goes wrong, they promise an 'internal investigation' but no one will ever know the outcome of these, unless Serco voluntarily release them to the public. They are unlikely to do that as it will effect their share price."
If anyone has information about Serco which can be validated, please contact Chris Dodd by email: [email protected]
2 November 2011
Further information provided by Chris Dodd, Brainbox Productions (see also Investigating Serco):
Serco is an ‘international service company’ which is contracted by governments and local authorities all around the world, to take care of public services.
Some of the key areas in which Serco works:
Military – Serco manages the UK’s Atomic Weapons Establishment, as well as providing engineering and maintenance support to UK military aviation, and support services at several UK military bases. — they even wash the Royal Navy’s dirty laundry.
Health Service – They provide out-of-hours GP services in the South West, and run their own Pathology Service.
Prisons - As well as running full prisons, Serco are responsible for electronic tagging, youth prisons, immigration centres and prisoner transport (some of which involves black cabs.)
This is scary enough, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
From speed cameras to nuclear safety, schools to time itself; Serco runs it all. And it doesn’t always go smoothly. Serco have been involved in a number of distressing incidents, like the time an Out of Hours Serco GP didn’t know how to call an ambulance for a baby with breathing difficulties. Or the time a Serco Prison guard used an unlawful use of force which contributed to the youngest death in UK custody.
This YouTube Video produced as part of an Australian TV program highlights just how vast and diverse Serco’s contracts are.
1 November 2011
It is interesting that Serco Group plc, a company founded in 1929, as a United Kingdom division of the Radio Corporation of America, has such a high turnover with such a low profile. It was primarily associated with the cinema industry but, over the years, it has widely diversified and is now involved in 'the most important areas of public service, including health, education, transport, science and defence'.
Attention has been drawn to this company by an independent film maker, Chris Dodd, who is investigating this little-known yet globally significant company. He is searching for anyone with knowledge of the company to share their information for inclusion in his film.
Their 'strapline' is:
"Serco is an international service company that improves the quality and efficiency of essential services that matter to millions of people around the world."
How does a company become so huge without being noticed?? Is there anything suspicious about its growth and involvement in so many areas of the public sector?
Below are some links to further information:
Serco Group plc (official website)
Wikipedia
Investigating Serco (Chris Dodd's website about Serco)
Brainbox Productions (Chris Dodd's video production company)
Chris Dodd can also be followed on Twitter: @mynameischrisd
The reasons why Chris Dodd began investigating Serco:
"When I started this, the main questions I had were:
'Is it right that a private company can profit from tax payers money?'
'If Serco can run public services in a way that makes a profit, why can't local authorities?'
'What are Serco doing differently to make that profit?'
It really didn't make sense that a council could save money by outsourcing a public service - and that Serco can then turn that public service into a profit making enterprise. Something, somewhere had to change in the provision of that service, to have such an outcome.
The more I've looked into Serco, the more I'm concerned about the way they operate. Aside from the fact that outsourcing is often a one-way street (it's often very expensive to bring services back in-house), the contracts with Serco seem to be a way of a public body washing their hands of a service.
The PCT that awarded the Out of Hours GP service in Cornwall, relies on Serco to keep them updated about complaints relating to the service. They've just signed a new 5 year contract without knowing the full extent of how well Serco are operating the service. The Justice Department has no clue about the number of complaints that have been made against Serco in relation to the operation of their prisons, because Serco handle them in-house.
Serco, the company profiting from tax payers money, are not open to scrutiny as they do not fall within government transparency laws. When something goes wrong, they promise an 'internal investigation' but no one will ever know the outcome of these, unless Serco voluntarily release them to the public. They are unlikely to do that as it will effect their share price."
If anyone has information about Serco which can be validated, please contact Chris Dodd by email: [email protected]
2 November 2011
Further information provided by Chris Dodd, Brainbox Productions (see also Investigating Serco):
Serco is an ‘international service company’ which is contracted by governments and local authorities all around the world, to take care of public services.
Some of the key areas in which Serco works:
Military – Serco manages the UK’s Atomic Weapons Establishment, as well as providing engineering and maintenance support to UK military aviation, and support services at several UK military bases. — they even wash the Royal Navy’s dirty laundry.
Health Service – They provide out-of-hours GP services in the South West, and run their own Pathology Service.
Prisons - As well as running full prisons, Serco are responsible for electronic tagging, youth prisons, immigration centres and prisoner transport (some of which involves black cabs.)
This is scary enough, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
From speed cameras to nuclear safety, schools to time itself; Serco runs it all. And it doesn’t always go smoothly. Serco have been involved in a number of distressing incidents, like the time an Out of Hours Serco GP didn’t know how to call an ambulance for a baby with breathing difficulties. Or the time a Serco Prison guard used an unlawful use of force which contributed to the youngest death in UK custody.
This YouTube Video produced as part of an Australian TV program highlights just how vast and diverse Serco’s contracts are.
1 November 2011
It is interesting that Serco Group plc, a company founded in 1929, as a United Kingdom division of the Radio Corporation of America, has such a high turnover with such a low profile. It was primarily associated with the cinema industry but, over the years, it has widely diversified and is now involved in 'the most important areas of public service, including health, education, transport, science and defence'.
Attention has been drawn to this company by an independent film maker, Chris Dodd, who is investigating this little-known yet globally significant company. He is searching for anyone with knowledge of the company to share their information for inclusion in his film.
Their 'strapline' is:
"Serco is an international service company that improves the quality and efficiency of essential services that matter to millions of people around the world."
How does a company become so huge without being noticed?? Is there anything suspicious about its growth and involvement in so many areas of the public sector?
Below are some links to further information:
Serco Group plc (official website)
Wikipedia
Investigating Serco (Chris Dodd's website about Serco)
Brainbox Productions (Chris Dodd's video production company)
Chris Dodd can also be followed on Twitter: @mynameischrisd