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PRISONERS will be able to enjoy DVDs and television on journeys between jail and court in new custody vans.

And security bosses have admitted they are installing the perk to stop the cons getting so bored they trash the smart new vehicles.

Flatscreen televisions are being installed in vans belonging to G4S, who take over Scotland’s prison transport next month.

And G4S defended the cushy rides yesterday, insisting they would “reduce the risks to health, and improve care and welfare”.

They insisted only prisoners travelling long journeys would be treated to the telly shows.

A spokeswoman said: “Among the risks to prisoners’ health G4S are aiming to reduce are anxiety associated with long journeys and appearing at court and self-harm or attempted suicides.

“I addition, the company hope to reduce the likelihood of prisoners damaging the cell due to anxiety or boredom.”

She added: “The systems can show standard channels as well as DVDs relating to general wellbeing and giving advice on prisoners’ rights.

“They certainly won’t be watching action movies or anything like that.”

G4S won the £154million seven-year contract to transport prisoners from rivals Reliance.

They expect to transport more than 1000 prisoners every day from Scotland’s 180,000-strong jail population.

Defending the TV vans, director David Denny said: “The security, health and welfare of those people in our care are always our top priorities.

“Prisoners sometimes have to be transported long distances for court appearances.

“For example, it is feasible that a young person might need to travel from Central Scotland to the Highlands.

“That’s at least an eight-hour round trip.

“Many prisoners suffer from a variety of mental illnesses and disabilities including anxiety and claustrophobia.

“These conditions have been considered when designing our fleet of vehicles.”

Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “People will be asking whether it’s the best use of public money to let prisoners watch a movie when they are going to court to be tried for serious crimes.”

G4S have spent a fortune on a 146-strong fleet of customised vehicles and training staff.

Many staff have been transferred from Reliance.

G4S were the first private company to take over court services from the public sector in England and Wales in 1993, employing more than 4000 staff.

Bumpy road for Reliance

RELIANCE Security lost the prison contract earlier this year.

G4S take over the prisoner transfer service in January in a seven-year deal. And they will be hoping to avoid the flak Reliance took in their eight years of ferrying cons around.

More than 50 prisoners – including teenage killer James McCormick – escaped from custody while travelling with Reliance.

Last year, Steven Black, 30, who is serving seven years for assault, kicked in a door and escaped as his van sat at traffic lights near Shotts jail.

Also last year, High Court judge Lord Bracadale slammed Reliance officers for forgetting to bring a murder accused to court.

In 2008, Reliance apologised to pregnant Donna McLeish, an inmate at Cornton Vale, after she was chained to an officer round-the-clock while being treated in hospital.