West Midlands Police alarmed at lack of training given to G4S Olympic security staff
WEST Midlands Police officers plugging the holes left by embattled Olympic security firm G4S have been left shocked and alarmed by its guards lack of training.
In a savage criticism of the shamed company, Ian Edwards, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said workers learnt more in 25 minutes with one of his officers than during all of their previous time on Olympic duty.
Mr Edwards said his members had seen G4S staff not following procedures, such as checking packages suspected of containing the explosive semtex.
Officers were genuinely shocked and alarmed by what they were seeing, he said.
The more they see, the more concerned we are, he said.
Not only has G4S failed to train and recruit enough security personnel, they have also failed to deliver even basic training.
West Midlands Police alarmed at lack of training given to G4S Olympic security staff - Top Stories - News - Birmingham Mail
and in Manchester>
Greater Manchester Police forced to step in to help secure Olympic football matches at Old Trafford after G4S fiasco
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it has been forced to step in to help secure Olympic football matches at Old Trafford because of the G4S fiasco. The force will be adding a 'number of specialist officers' to fill in gaps because the security firm has not been able to recruit enough guards. GMP had previously agreed it would be posting around 100 cops around the ground for the games. These officers will now be supplemented by the extra specialist cops. Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "Following discussions with LOCOG (London Olympic Games Organising Committee) we have now taken the decision to supply a small number of specialist police officers to assist in the safety and security operation at Old Trafford. The decision was taken as part of GMP's contingency planning process and will ensure a significant police presence is in place at the stadium for the duration of the Olympic football matches. The officers will be in place from Sunday and at no point has this move changed the security arrangements for the athletes. "We have worked closely with the security contractor and LOCOG in relation to this matter, as we have throughout the planning phase of the Olympic games. There will be a minimal impact on policing the local communities that we serve on a daily basis. The decision comes after the force had to send in more than 30 cops to help secure the Worsley Marriott hotel in Salford ahead of the arrival of Olympic athletes.
Read more at: Greater Manchester Police forced to step in to help secure Olympic football matches at Old Trafford after G4S fiasco | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk
WEST Midlands Police officers plugging the holes left by embattled Olympic security firm G4S have been left shocked and alarmed by its guards lack of training.
In a savage criticism of the shamed company, Ian Edwards, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said workers learnt more in 25 minutes with one of his officers than during all of their previous time on Olympic duty.
Mr Edwards said his members had seen G4S staff not following procedures, such as checking packages suspected of containing the explosive semtex.
Officers were genuinely shocked and alarmed by what they were seeing, he said.
The more they see, the more concerned we are, he said.
Not only has G4S failed to train and recruit enough security personnel, they have also failed to deliver even basic training.
West Midlands Police alarmed at lack of training given to G4S Olympic security staff - Top Stories - News - Birmingham Mail
and in Manchester>
Greater Manchester Police forced to step in to help secure Olympic football matches at Old Trafford after G4S fiasco
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it has been forced to step in to help secure Olympic football matches at Old Trafford because of the G4S fiasco. The force will be adding a 'number of specialist officers' to fill in gaps because the security firm has not been able to recruit enough guards. GMP had previously agreed it would be posting around 100 cops around the ground for the games. These officers will now be supplemented by the extra specialist cops. Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "Following discussions with LOCOG (London Olympic Games Organising Committee) we have now taken the decision to supply a small number of specialist police officers to assist in the safety and security operation at Old Trafford. The decision was taken as part of GMP's contingency planning process and will ensure a significant police presence is in place at the stadium for the duration of the Olympic football matches. The officers will be in place from Sunday and at no point has this move changed the security arrangements for the athletes. "We have worked closely with the security contractor and LOCOG in relation to this matter, as we have throughout the planning phase of the Olympic games. There will be a minimal impact on policing the local communities that we serve on a daily basis. The decision comes after the force had to send in more than 30 cops to help secure the Worsley Marriott hotel in Salford ahead of the arrival of Olympic athletes.
Read more at: Greater Manchester Police forced to step in to help secure Olympic football matches at Old Trafford after G4S fiasco | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk