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G4S donates £2.5m to armed forces
13 August 2012
The firm had been awarded a £284m contract to provide 10,400 trained security personnel to the Olympics, but failed to train and vet the required number in time.
Some 4,700 extra military personnel were deployed to secure the games after G4S revealed it would not be able to provide the full quota of trained security personnel in early July, just days before the Games began. The extra troops worked with the G4S personnel in manning checkpoints and ensuring perimeter security at Olympic venues.
G4S has previously said that it faces contract penalties of between £35m and £50m after failing to fulfil its original arrangement with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG).
The MoD has welcomed G4S' donation, which amounts to just under £532 per extra soldier deployed. The money will be spent on armed forces "sporting and welfare organisations", the MoD said.
"The armed forces provided more to the security and protection of the Games than had originally been planned, but as always they have carried out their tasks with professionalism and good humour," Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond said
"This contribution from G4S is welcome news for the service welfare funds and will go some way to recognising the inconvenience and extra burden that this commitment has placed upon our forces and their families. I am delighted that G4S and the armed forces have worked so well together to ensure a safe and secure games."
Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, said the donation recognised "all the hard work and commitment Service personnel have displayed during the London 2012 Olympic Games".
"Together with G4S, the men and women of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force have delivered a safe and secure Olympics," said General Richards.
"I am glad that they are receiving the gratitude and recognition for the excellent work, not just from the public, but from those they are working alongside."
HAVE YOUR SAY
13 August 2012
Compared to the billions in contracts Group 4 receive for what used to be done by the state, that is peanuts.
How about the top brass at Group 4 resigning and admitting the private sector and the profit motive don't mix where national security are concerned.
The UK MOD and civil service should have done the bulk of the Olympic security anyway from the start.
It all turned out right on the night thank goodness - in no small part due to the armed forces coming up trumps once again!
Take note UK MOD procurement - the Olympics is an example of what can be done with well thought out state funding and planning - it is a pity the same paradigm does not extend to buying kit from UK manufacturers -otherwise we might see a resurgence of UK aerospace - a national UCAV project that generates a world lead for the UK and billions in foreign sales - rather than being worked over by the French in some stitch up technology transfer of a bi-lateral program, or even worse, a multi-national program.
PS: The Germans are still sensitive about the BAE EAP and preventing it from going on public display at RAF Cosford. I can't believe we are giving in to them on this after all these years!
Martin Bayliss - Stroud
13 August 2012
Presumably this must be in addition to the full operating cost recovery of the supply of armed service personnel and MOD staff time, which will be recovered on repayment terms (since the taxpayer/HMT is not in the business of subsidising private security firms)? None of the articles I have read have mentioned the full recovery/repayment - would you like me to research this for you by writing to my MP?
AlMiles - Bristol, UK