Security van makes 120 mile trip to escort prisoner 200 yards

A security van was sent on a 120-mile round trip to take a prisoner 200 yards.

Mark Bailey, 35, had been taken from jail to a crown court, but needed to appear before magistrates across the road.

Police said they could not frogmarch him handcuffed in public because it would breach his human rights — and there were no prison vans available.



So private firm Global Solutions had to send a van to Northampton from its base in Cambridge.

Police said: "Once a person is in the courts system, police are not responsible for their transportation.

"It would not be appropriate for prisoners to walk in a public area while in custody for reasons of public safety as well as the safety and human rights of the prisoner."