The move towards a second emergency deployment followed the disclosure that Theresa May, the Home Secretary, was warned about problems at G4S, the Games security contractor, several weeks before she had previously admitted.
Failures by G4S have forced the Government to deploy an extra 3,500 military personnel to the Games, as well as hundreds of police officers. A total of 17,000 are involved.
The firm has still not been able to tell organisers how many security guards it will provide, forcing ministers to consider a second deployment. Senior ministers yesterday concluded there was no immediate need for the move, but accepted that more troops could be required. As a result, 1,200 personnel have been put on 48 hours’ “notice to move”.
Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, said G4S’s performance was improving, but accepted that the extra soldiers, sailors and airmen could yet be necessary. “They will remain in their current locations but can be called on if we need them during the coming weeks,” Mr Hunt said. “This is a sensible precaution.”
Mrs May last week told MPs that ministers had only become aware of problems at G4S the previous day, but in a letter to the home affairs committee yesterday she said G4S had told an Olympics Security Board meeting of “scheduling problems” on June 27. The Home Office said Mrs May gave accurate answers.
The Telegraph
No comments:
Post a Comment