Reliance Secure Task Management (RSTM), which transports prisoners in four, six and 14 cell vehicles, has awarded the deal to Prohire. Keith Copple, operations director at Prohire, said: ‘This contract is not standard in that we cannot use ordinary rental vehicles to supplement the fleet. They have to be totally equipped to suit the operation.’

The new contract more than doubles an existing £12 million contract Prohire has with RSTM and will involve more than 300 Iveco vehicles. The Iveco 45C15 has four cells and the 50C15 has six cells.

Each vehicle has specially designed cells and internal security systems.