G4S Failures ‘completely normal’ says British Culture Secretary

July 15, 2012

British Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, says it is “completely normal” for a contractor to fail to meet its contractual obligations following G4S recent Olympic security failures came to light.

G4S revealed earlier this week they would be unable to meet its obligations to provide security personnel for the London Olympics. In response the government immediately called upon 3,500 military personnel, many of whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, to fill the void.

The Independent revealed that the government were informed of concerns regarding G4S’s capacity to provide security in a confidential report as early as September last year. However, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, told the House of Commons on Thursday that the problems had not become apparent until the previous day. She said: “We were receiving reassurances from G4S until very recently, and the absolute gap in numbers was crystallised finally only yesterday.”

Hunt told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show: “”We, of course, have been monitoring the situation at G4S. Their management told us right up until last week that everything was on track. The moment that they didn’t, we put in place a contingency plan.”

He added: “G4S have been quite honourable. They have put their hands up. Nick Buckles, the chief executive, has said they got it wrong, they have apologised, they are going to cover all the costs, he has apologised to the troops who are going to be drafted in at the last moment.” 

“I think it is completely normal that you are going to find some contractors on a project of this size who aren’t able to deliver what they have promised.”