G4S finds itself in Olympic storm
12 July 2012
Home secretary Theresa May has told parliament that Olympic security will not be compromised by major changes to staffing provision for the London Olympic Games this summer, where G4S workers will be joined by further military personnel.
Thu, 12 Jul 2012
Home secretary Theresa May has told parliament that Olympic security will not be compromised by major changes to staffing provision for the London Olympic Games this summer, where G4S workers will be joined by further military personnel.
Labour MPs had tabled an urgent question to the House of Commons today following news reports this morning finding that the UK armed forces are placing 3,500 extra troops on standby for Olympic security duties, amidst suggestions the G4S has not been able to guarantee it will be able to provider the necessary number of security personnel.May admitted that "concerns have arisen" around that provision, and adds that the extra military personnel were drafted in following consultation with G4S and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
This means the number of military personnel working on a number of areas safety and security areas at the Games would rise to roughly 17,000, with May saying it had always intended to supply 7,500 military personnel to support venue security operations.
This 9,500-man rise coincides with recruiter.co.uk’s report in November 2011 that G4S had originally been told they would need to supply 10,000 staff for the Games, but this was later revised to 21,000. At that time a spokesperson for the company told Recruiter: “We were always aware that this [10,000 figure] might change and if it does we will meet the change.”
A G4S spokesperson tells Recruiter today (12 July) that it has “encountered some delays in progressing applicants through the final stages but we are working extremely hard to process these as swiftly as possible”.
The company says it already has around 4,000 people at work across 100 venues, and another 9,000 “going through the final stages of the required extensive training, vetting and accreditation process”.
The spokesperson concludes: “We understand the government's decision to bring in additional resources, and will work with LOCOG, the military and other agencies to deliver a safe and secure Games.”
A spokesperson for LOCOG adds: “Delivering a safe and secure Games is everyone’s number one priority. We do not anticipate an increase in the overall venue security numbers.”
May also added that she had been assured by the armed forces Chiefs of Staff the extra deployment would have “no adverse impact on other [military] operations”, and detailed various measures designed to compensate military personnel for carrying out unexpected extra duties, including already-in-place priority ticketing services.
Home secretary Theresa May has told parliament that Olympic security will not be compromised by major changes to staffing provision for the London Olympic Games this summer, where G4S workers will be joined by further military personnel.
Labour MPs had tabled an urgent question to the House of Commons today following news reports this morning finding that the UK armed forces are placing 3,500 extra troops on standby for Olympic security duties, amidst suggestions the G4S has not been able to guarantee it will be able to provider the necessary number of security personnel.May admitted that "concerns have arisen" around that provision, and adds that the extra military personnel were drafted in following consultation with G4S and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
This means the number of military personnel working on a number of areas safety and security areas at the Games would rise to roughly 17,000, with May saying it had always intended to supply 7,500 military personnel to support venue security operations.
This 9,500-man rise coincides with recruiter.co.uk’s report in November 2011 that G4S had originally been told they would need to supply 10,000 staff for the Games, but this was later revised to 21,000. At that time a spokesperson for the company told Recruiter: “We were always aware that this [10,000 figure] might change and if it does we will meet the change.”
A G4S spokesperson tells Recruiter today (12 July) that it has “encountered some delays in progressing applicants through the final stages but we are working extremely hard to process these as swiftly as possible”.
The company says it already has around 4,000 people at work across 100 venues, and another 9,000 “going through the final stages of the required extensive training, vetting and accreditation process”.
The spokesperson concludes: “We understand the government's decision to bring in additional resources, and will work with LOCOG, the military and other agencies to deliver a safe and secure Games.”
A spokesperson for LOCOG adds: “Delivering a safe and secure Games is everyone’s number one priority. We do not anticipate an increase in the overall venue security numbers.”
May also added that she had been assured by the armed forces Chiefs of Staff the extra deployment would have “no adverse impact on other [military] operations”, and detailed various measures designed to compensate military personnel for carrying out unexpected extra duties, including already-in-place priority ticketing services.
