Reliance staff will take on three new court areas from Wednesday

The company will take control on Wednesday after completing shadowing exercises in the areas' courts.

The Scottish Executive decided to give the go-ahead after the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) promised Reliance could handle the added responsibility.

The firm already performs the duties in other west of Scotland courts.

Court blunders

Reliance came under the spotlight after a number of prisoners were released in error after it began its �126m contract to provide prisoner escort services in Scotland in April.

A number of prisoners and offenders were mistakenly set free and the extension of the contract was suspended until the problems were ironed out.

The most recent roll-out of the prisoner escorting service has gone without a hitch and I am sure the same will be true of this next phase Campbell O'Connell Reliance operations director

The company's expansion into the three new regions form the second phase of its contract roll-out.

Reliance operations director Campbell O'Connell said: "I am confident our officers are now ready to proceed with this latest phase of the contract.

"They have been robustly assessed during the shadowing period by the SPS.

"We have learned vital lessons from the experience of the first phase and improvements have been made to the prisoner escorting service.

"The most recent roll-out of the prisoner escorting service has gone without a hitch and I am sure the same will be true of this next phase."

Promises to ministers

Since 22 July, Reliance staff have familiarised themselves with the layout of the local courts by shadowing police and court staff.

For the roll-out to go ahead, the company had to include assurances to ministers in terms of its levels of resources, staff training, communications and contingency planning.

Its statements have since been backed by the Crown Office, the procurator fiscal, police and the Scottish Court Service.

All indicated that they are ready to proceed and are confident Reliance is capable of providing a satisfactory service.