Police covered ‘thousands’ of London Olympic Games security shifts

By HELEN WILLIAM
Published on 12/10/2012 00:00

Police had to cover “thousands” of extra shifts at the London 2012 Games after private security firm G4S failed to recruit and train enough guards.

Officers working overtime covered around 500 shifts, earmarked for G4S staff, in London alone.

Regional events such as the football competitions meant this figure jumped “significantly” outside London during the Games, the national Olympic security co-ordinator, Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison said.

He told London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee: “It was significantly more than that [500 shifts in London]. I think it was in the thousands that we had to do nationally.”

G4S confirmed the shortage just weeks before the Games began.

All the forces, such as Strathclyde Police who took over ­responsibility for security at the Olympic venue in Glasgow, are being reimbursed by G4S, Mr ­Allison said.