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1,200 extra troops on standby for Olympics
20 July 2012
The number is in addition to the 17,000 who will be deployed, 3,500 of whom were called on after contractor G4S failed to provide the 10,400 trained security staff it had pledged to deliver for the event.
The majority of the troops will be providing venue security, manning scanners and carrying out security checks. Thousands more will work behind the scenes throughout the event.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said ministers felt there was "no current need to deploy any additional troops" but that putting more on standby was "sensible".
"G4S numbers are rising and we are seeing an improvement in the company's performance which is to be welcomed," he said in a statement.
"Safety and security will always have the highest priority. As we have said we must prepare for every contingency. We are therefore putting an additional 1,200 troops on standby, reducing their notice to move from seven days to 48 hours.
"They will remain in their current locations but can be called on if we need them during the coming weeks. We hope that will not be necessary but this is a sensible precaution.
"There will be other challenges over the coming weeks, but we are confident that we are on track to stage a great games."
The Ministry of Defence said the move was "sensible and prudent".
HAVE YOUR SAY
20 July 2012
Sensible and prudent eh?
Suppose it is "sensible and prudent" to be cutting 20000 as well with the forces already cut to ribbons with constant cuts since 1991?
Divert a part of the foreign aid bill and spend it on keeping our forces. Might save on benefits after too eh?
Daniele Mandelli - Guildford
20 July 2012
Daniele,
Absolutely agree, the use of the armed forces to take the places of civilian security guards is a gross misuse of capabilities,and money we can ill afford.
At a time when the armed forces are being decimated,to then call upon them to undertake this job is nothing short of insulting.
Even more insulting is hat G4S will still be walking away with millions of pounds worth of taxpayers money
I just hope that when some squaddie who has been trained to react with force,is faced with some drunken or aggressive member of the public and acts in the manner in which he has been trained,is not put in front of the courts for assault..
We have seen this in such places as Iraq,Afghanistan and particularly in Northern Ireland.
Our armed forces are not there to be used to fill in for some failed civilian security group,this is a job for the Police not the forces.
Hang on though we have also cut the police force to the bone,and filled the vacancies with 'hobby bobbies' As a Tory voter I very much hope that David and Nick get their act together before 2015,or else we will be back to square one.
The adenoidal one will be in power.
michael - notts