G4S Lack of Security Staff for Olympics

[Stephen55a1960]

G4S made a media announcement late on Friday night saying this matter would cost them many millions of pound sterling....I only caught the "tail-end" of this. Does anyone know how much they said it would be costing them ?

I could be wrong; but I believe, that the contract is worth around £300 million? I think I have seen this figure quoted on the BBC News Website.

 

[Clip]

I could be wrong; but I believe, that the contract is worth around £300 million? I think I have seen this figure quoted on the BBC News Website.

Aye thats the contract - I think they were making a saving of around £24million by not filling the positions. Hopefully they will get penalised this amount and more .

 

[Stephen55a1960]

Aye thats the contract - I think they were making a saving of around £24million by not filling the positions. Hopefully they will get penalised this amount and more .

Again I have seen a figure (from the same source) that suggests that they'll lose around £50 milllion? How true that is, I don't know?

 

[Schnellzug]

According to the News, 50 mill seems to be the accepted figure.
Of course, g4s have always had a slightyl iffy reputation; remember when they were Group 4, and they had the prisoner escort contract? They were renowned for not necessarily reaching the destination with the same number of passengers they'd set out with.. :roll:
I suppose the sad thing is that Securicor, a long established a reputable firm, was taken over by them, but I suppose that's Capitalism ....

 

[12CSVT]

He said G4S have a "no fail" policy and when the operatives fail a course they are simply downgraded but never sacked.

Presumably the worst ones end up doing the ticket checks for Northern in the Manchester area.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Again I have seen a figure (from the same source) that suggests that they'll lose around £50 milllion? How true that is, I don't know?

Thank you for this answer to the question that I asked late last night in my posting. It is so annoying when you only catch the "tail-end" of a news story.

 

[lincolnshire]

Who was responsible for letting the contract to G4S for security at the Olympics then?

The Olympic Delivery company or H.M Government

Who is footing the bill ?

 

[Mike395]

It's the Government - although G4S themselves are paying for the additional army support due to their own failings.

 

[Johnuk123]

I see G4S are also recruiting thousands of teenagers for security.

Anybody who has ever worked in immigration/border checks will tell you that instinct is probably the most useful tool you can have.

What instinct will the 3300 teenagers have when confronted with a sweaty guy whose obviously nervous at being rubbed down and searched.

All the front line security positions should have been offered to retired or ex Police/military/prison officers who do have a great amount of instinct.

Plenty of these guys are around especially Police who can be retired at 50.

I am not knocking young people, some are very sensible and level headed but instinct only comes with age.

As every day passes the security looks more and more like a badly run cowboy outfit.

 

[142094]

I'm going to Manchester Piccadilly on Monday, so I am looking forward to seeing the G4S crowd!

Have you're ticket ready otherwise you'll be rugby tackled to the ground*...

* Of course you won't, but it wouldn't suprise me if someone actually has done this

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see G4S are also recruiting thousands of teenagers for security.

What is the official minimum age that the SIA, who are in sole charge of the issue of the licenses and badges, decree for the security staff that they have to process in terms of CRB or advanced CRB checks ?

Is the age the same or higher than the age in which someone can sign up to be a member of the Armed Forces ?

 

[Johnuk123]

What is the official minimum age that the SIA, who are in sole charge of the issue of the licenses and badges, decree for the security staff that they have to process in terms of CRB or advanced CRB checks ?

Is the age the same or higher than the age in which someone can sign up to be a member of the Armed Forces ?

Minimum age for a S.I.A. badge is 18.

You can join the armed forces at 16 with parental consent, but can't get officially shot at till 18.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Weren't the hired teens filmed listening to iPads this week when they were meant to be starting training / work? I can't remember where the pictures were but I'm far from surprised. There's also talk that Ms. May owns shares in G4S...

 

[Johnuk123]

Weren't the hired teens filmed listening to iPads this week when they were meant to be starting training / work? I can't remember where the pictures were but I'm far from surprised. There's also talk that Ms. May owns shares in G4S...

Yes several were, and also some were asleep in the classroom which in some cases had 80-100 in it !

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Well she does seem to have taken prompt and appropriate corrective action when this came to light. Or would you rather she took the Mrs Doyle approach of asking G4S "Do you really have enough staff?" every five minutes since the start of organising. That, in any case, would be down to LOCOG.

When LOCOG first decided upon the number of both the military and the private security staffing requirements for the 2012 London Olympic Games, it is said that they used a numerical figure of both of these two sections of manpower requirements for costing purposes. What numbers were these original figures, as I am led to believe that their original figure requirements were somewhat under-estimated, causing them to reissue revised and increased level requirement contracts. Have LOCOG had any other instances in other sections of their budgetary planning of other staffing costing problems connected with the Olympic Games or is it just the one single matter of security in which their original figures were sadly lacking in the need to meet actual requirements ?

 

[455driver]

I wonder if the Police/ Military could have done a better job for less than the £284million G4S were given (and only having to give £55million back means they have done VERY well out of this fiasco).

 

[Mojo]

Those who have participated in the 'Bridging the Gap' programme and whom have a level two qualification in door supervision or CCTV operation, and working during the Olympics at Olympic venues are exempted from needing an SIA license.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder if the Police/ Military could have done a better job for less than the £284million G4S were given (and only having to give £55million back means they have done VERY well out of this fiasco).

Are there that number of Police who could have been deployed, in addition to those in military service, who could have been relocated from their normal duties for the period of the Olympic Games without causing a detrimental manpower shortage from whence they were sent ?

 

[lincolnshire]

Why has there not been anyone calling for Lord Coe to go over the mess up over Olympics security, as wasn,t it his LOCOG organization who let the contract for security ?

Just look at there web site and see all the board, I wonder what they are all receiving out of this or are they all doing it for free for the good of sport !

 

[Oswyntail]

Why has there not been anyone calling for Lord Coe to go over the mess up over Olympics security, as wasn,t it his LOCOG organization who let the contract for security ?...

I believe that it was LOCOG working in conjunction with the Home Office. As those responsible for the Home Office at the time are now in opposition in Parliament, calling for heads to roll would rebound on themselves. Hence we have the fragrant, sweet-natured Tessa "Bimbo" Jowell (who was one of those responsible) calling for calm and not disturbing things this close to the games. (A fair enough approach, but would come better from someone less waist deep in the mire of responsibility)

 

[Butts]

Believe it or not G4S are one of the better Security Companies, and I should know having worked for quite a few including them.

Based in Crawley they are the Worlds third biggest Private Sector Employer. They provide the Security at 14 UK Airports,Four Ports, Run six Prisons and two Immigration Centres. They are also responsible for security at 500 Police Stations and 30 Custody Suites. They also tag 14,000 Prisoners each year, deliver 300 billion in cash from 2300 vehicles per year and take 39 million utility readings for companies in the UK every year. This is in addition to "top end" services such as proper "bodyguards" etc and work in war zones and other activities all over the world.

Compared to my responsibilities when working for them which was to sit watching TV all night in a disused abbatoir near Linlithgow can perhaps put it all into perspective. There is such a vast range and complexity of tasks within their remit.

Theres no doubt they have "cocked up" but I'm not sure who else would have been big enough to take on such an undertaking in the UK. Believe me despite the introduction of Licensing and the SIA, you largely have cowboys with licences rather than without.(the employees and in some cases employers as well)

The biggest problem is that as with a lot of things today , everyone wants it "on the cheap" and this is reflected in the calibre of staff they are able to attract with the wages on offer. Hence the problems with the "Ticket Checkers" who are working alongside people on much better pay and conditions.

Most Security Guards have to work at least 60 hours per week to obtain a living wage, without the sick pay and other benefits most employees get. Having said that G4S are better than most in this field - a sobering thought

 

[Greenback]

I wonder if the Police/ Military could have done a better job for less than the £284million G4S were given (and only having to give £55million back means they have done VERY well out of this fiasco).

They have done very well financially, but their enormous mess up on this might hit the company hard when it coems to future contracts, and also their reputation has taken a huge battering.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder if the Police/ Military could have done a better job for less than the £284million G4S were given (and only having to give £55million back means they have done VERY well out of this fiasco).

The £284 million was the bid cost including all wages and overheads...not the total profit margin that was allowed for in that figure. Say for example that they had built a profit figure of 20% into their costing budget, which is a very high estimate indeed, the figure you quote of £55 million would most probably mean they would not even break even on this contract. They have now agreed to meet all the costs of the military who will be making up the shortfall.

Therefore I cannot therefore see what you mean when you say that they have done VERY well out of this fiasco. It cannot be in terms of finance and most definitely not in the fields of company reputation both at home or overseas. Do not forget that G4S is a global multi-national organisation.

 

[Schnellzug]

Why has there not been anyone calling for Lord Coe to go over the mess up over Olympics security, as wasn,t it his LOCOG organization who let the contract for security ?

Just look at there web site and see all the board, I wonder what they are all receiving out of this or are they all doing it for free for the good of sport !

Because he has more power than David Cameron, and is able, it seems, to do whatever he likes and, more to the point, to order anyone else to do whatever he likes.
What administrative skills does he have, exactly?

 

[Oswyntail]

....What administrative skills does he have, exactly?

Actually, from direct experience, he is a very good chairman of meetings (no mean skill given the disparate bunch he deals with), and is an excellent "schmoozer". I think, on balance, he merits the high profile and plaudits he is receiving. Let us not lose sight of the fact that it was the "political" side that handled security contracts.

 

[142094]

Being reported that Northumbria Police had to help out today for incoming athletes when most of the G4S staff didn't turn up.

 

[Crossover]

Being reported that Northumbria Police had to help out today for incoming athletes when most of the G4S staff didn't turn up.

I heard something like 19 out of the 56 contracted G4S staff actually turned up hock:

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Theres no doubt they have "cocked up" but I'm not sure who else would have been big enough to take on such an undertaking in the UK.

There has been a deafening media silence with regard to this particular point concerning other private security industry organisations in Britain, that you so well make above.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I heard something like 19 out of the 56 contracted G4S staff actually turned up hock:

This says a lot about human nature and being able to act in an adult manner. What was the old saying....You cannot make silk purses out of sows ears :roll:

 

[Stephen55a1960]

Actually, from direct experience, he is a very good chairman of meetings (no mean skill given the disparate bunch he deals with), and is an excellent "schmoozer". I think, on balance, he merits the high profile and plaudits he is receiving. Let us not lose sight of the fact that it was the "political" side that handled security contracts.

This probably explains, why the opposition party shouldn't throw stones in the glasshouse It is certainly a fiasco.

 

[tony_mac]

There has been a deafening media silence with regard to this particular point concerning other private security industry organisations in Britain, that you so well make above.

You are assuming that it had to be a private security organisation.

When you are paying approximately £30k per person for a few weeks work, I would expect that many large organisations would have been able to make it happen - the Royal Mail manage to take on more people every Christmas.

There was an interesting call on Radio 5 today from one of the chaps working in Manchester - it really sounded like a shambles!
He applied in February - His referee was only called on Wednesday last week, he has since started the job having had no training at all, or even uniform, and was given a 20 minute introduction and left to get on with it.