17/07/2012

G4S Chief Executive Regrets Taking Olympic Contract

The chief executive of security firm G4S, Nick Buckles, has said he regrets that the firm ever took on the Olympic security contract.

Telling the Home Affairs Select Committee that G4S had taken on the contract to enhance its reputation, he agreed it has become a "humiliating shambles".

The company is facing potential loses of up to £50m from the £284m contract as it has failed to supply enough guards.

Mr Buckles said police and the military would be reimbursed for providing personnel to plug the gaps, adding that the cost of accommodation for troops would also be covered.

He made the comments after 3,500 extra troops had to be deployed to meet the firm's shortfall. Police have also helped fill gaps left by G4S.

Amid rumours of resignations Locog chairman Lord Coe said it was not for him to say whether Mr Buckles should resign.

When asked why he was still in the post, Mr Buckles said: "It's not about me; it's about delivering the contract. I'm the right person to ensure that happens."

G4S had been contracted to supply about 10,000 members of staff.

Mr Buckles told MPs his company had about 4,200 people "working on the ground" and expected that at least 7,000 people would be in place for the Games.

"Clearly we regret signing it [the contract] but now we have got to get on and deliver it," he said.

(H)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 February 2013
G4S Lose £70m Over Olympic Security Failures
Losses incurred by security firm G4S, who were contracted to provide security for the London 2012 Olympics, have risen to an estimated £70m after reaching a compensation agreement with the Games’ organising committee, Locog.
21 September 2012
G4S Should Forgo £57m Olympic Security Fee MPs Say
After failing to supply the required number of Olympics security staff G4S should forgo its £57m management fee, a committee of MPs has said. In a report on Olympics security, the Home Affairs Committee go on to argue that G4S should also compensate people who were accredited for Olympics work with the firm but not given any shifts.
16 July 2012
G4S Shares Drop 9% Amid Olympic Security Problems
Shares in security provider G4S fell 9% after announcing that it had failed to recruit enough security staff for the Olympic Games, and could face up to a £50m loss on its contract. Late on Friday, G4S said it faced a £35m-£50m loss on the £284m contract after admitting that it did not have enough staff to cover the Games.
04 December 2013
£40bn Investment In Renewables Expected By 2020
£40bn of investments are expected in renewable electricity generation up to 2020, according to the government. The news follows updated contract terms and strike prices published today. Over 20GW of renewables capacity is currently operational in the UK. The government expects this to double by 2020 as a result of new reforms.
21 August 2003
Two US troops killed in Iraq ambushes
Two Americans soldiers died in separate attacks in Iraq yesterday, the US military has confirmed. A soldier from the 3rd Corps Support Command, operating out of Kuwait, was killed when his heavy transport hauler was attacked with small-arms fire southeast of the town of Ad Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad.