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Newbury Today Forum _ Random Rants _ G4S
Posted by: Jayjay Jul 16 2012, 09:35 AM
This is from an article in Stars and Stripes. Seems G4S has a reputation for taking on contracts they cannot fulfill.
"Six weeks after a new contractor failed to hire enough security guards, U.S. soldiers continue to staff a number of entry gates at military installations in South Korea.
Military officials, however, say they have no plans to sever ties with security firm G4S, even though the company is in violation of its contract. "
Posted by: Biker1 Jul 16 2012, 09:43 AM
Is the Olympic security fiasco G4S's fault, or did they inform the powers that be that they were having difficulties providing staff who did not act accordingly at an earlier stage?
I am a little confused as to where the blame lies here.
Posted by: Jayjay Jul 16 2012, 10:44 AM
When do mistakes become incompetence?
G4S lost the keys to Birmingham prison in October. This month they lost 250 tagged prisoner after losing many tagged offenders, some of them sex offenders, a few years ago for the same reason. Last year they lost the deportation contract after a deportee died and another needed to be recusitated. In April they lost a contract with EU parliament through illegal activities in Israel. They have lost prisoner and let prisoners out by mistake and now the Olypics for the same mistakes made in Korea.
As to the timings of when things went wrong that will be down to the inquiry. If I had given a workman several years notice that I wanted a job done on a certain date for a certain period of time and I had paid him, if he then told me he couldn't get manpower just before the job started I would consider him incompetent at best and even fraudulent.
Posted by: TallDarkAndHandsome Jul 16 2012, 11:04 AM
What I don't get is why can't we get enough people willing to work to earn some money in these roles? We are supposed to have over 3 million umemployed. 
Is it because a lot of the 3 million unemployed don't want to work or would fail the security checks that would apply in order to obtain such a job? Or is it that the recruitment policy at G4S is hopeless?
Posted by: Jayjay Jul 16 2012, 11:25 AM
Is it because a lot of the 3 million unemployed don't want to work or would fail the security checks that would apply in order to obtain such a job? Or is it that the recruitment policy at G4S is hopeless?
I have just tried to register an interest. Newbury postcode and willing to travel up to 200 miles for events security on a temp basis. Offered Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds. Pay is £6.80 ph. I think that answers your question.
Posted by: Andy Capp Jul 16 2012, 11:41 AM
Is it because a lot of the 3 million unemployed don't want to work or would fail the security checks that would apply in order to obtain such a job? Or is it that the recruitment policy at G4S is hopeless?Looks like you were right TDH!
Trying to do short term work makes getting back to where you were hard when you are on benefits, etc.
Posted by: Simon Kirby Jul 16 2012, 12:08 PM
G4S appear to have 9,000 recruits in training and 4,000 ready to go, so the problem wouldn't appear to be a lack of willing candidates but rather G4S's inability to process them in time.
Posted by: Nothing Much Jul 16 2012, 01:17 PM
A poster here is registered as a volunteer steward for the games..(Not Security).
He has no idea where or what he will be tasked. I guess it will be fun to be there.
I never liked running or anything like that
Pretending to be a Spitfire was OK.
ce
Posted by: Nothing Much Jul 16 2012, 01:31 PM
OOOPs ce
Posted by: JeffG Jul 16 2012, 02:53 PM
I'm guessing G4S was Group 4 Security, and is following the trend to reduce everything to initials (like KFC - I'm sure there are others).
Posted by: Jayjay Jul 16 2012, 03:47 PM
Group 4 merged with Securicor in 2004 to form G4S.
Posted by: JeffG Jul 16 2012, 04:02 PM
Wow! Do you mean it's not been called Group 4 for 8 years? I remember a load of fuss about them carting prisoners around and losing them.
Posted by: Jayjay Jul 16 2012, 04:26 PM
Group 4 and Securicor merged in 2004 becoming Group 4 Securicor, in 2009 they changed the logo to G4S.
Posted by: lordtup Jul 16 2012, 05:20 PM
This is quickly becoming the funniest thing on television since Monty Python's Flying Circus .
I can't help feeling that if I was of a subversive nature I would take my cause celebre to somewhere a little less cavalier in it's approach to the whole security question. Just imagine the street cred generated by causing disruption at the London Olympics. One would be laughed out of court . 
On a serious note though ,how much of this bill is being footed by the British tax payer ?
Posted by: Strafin Jul 16 2012, 06:13 PM
G4S are at least paying for the military deployment.
Posted by: Jayjay Jul 16 2012, 06:20 PM
I can't help feeling that if I was of a subversive nature I would take my cause celebre to somewhere a little less cavalier in it's approach to the whole security question. Just imagine the street cred generated by causing disruption at the London Olympics. One would be laughed out of court .
On a serious note though ,how much of this bill is being footed by the British tax payer ?
The bill for the Police is over 12 million and GS4 received £300M. Add into that the navy for the sailing events and any extra that the forces will be paid for giving up their leave. There is also the cost to local councils - the hour the torch went through Newbury cost £20,000.
Posted by: NORTHENDER Jul 16 2012, 06:54 PM
He has no idea where or what he will be tasked. ce
As the song says "I was that deck of cards" I was selected after 2 yrs of a selection process. I was eventually picked as a "games Maker" as we are called. I went to an introductory day and to pick up my kit. I was tasked as a meeter and greeter at varying venues. Now comes the crunch. While visiting Thetford forests Go Ape centre on Friday with some of my family I did a bit of damage to my back. Torn tendon, very painful, so now in doubt whether I will be meeting and greeting anyone for a few weeks. This is me a few years ago when I was 65 so
you can see how easy it can be to hurt yourself if things do not go right, it didn't on Friday.
Posted by: NWNREADER Jul 16 2012, 07:35 PM
That is an impression I have, but I await the detail and the cheque.........
Posted by: Simon Kirby Jul 16 2012, 07:36 PM
you can see how easy it can be to hurt yourself if things do not go right, it didn't on Friday.
Go Ape looks fun. I'm sorry you've hurt yourself.
Posted by: NORTHENDER Jul 16 2012, 07:52 PM
Yes its great fun. The death slides through the trees are my favorites. My kids think I am nuts but the grandkids think I am related to Tarzan
Posted by: Weavers Walk Jul 17 2012, 09:26 AM
That re-branding didn't seem to work, Time for another.
How about 'Keystone'?
Posted by: Jayjay Jul 19 2012, 06:35 AM
Headline in paper this morning "I'll go after G4S cash, promises Cameron". So dissapointed when I realised it he was just trying to claw back a few quid. 
Posted by: andy1979uk Jul 19 2012, 08:23 AM
hehe I read it that way as well
Posted by: Newbelly Jul 19 2012, 12:47 PM
Caught the local news at lunchtime.
A G4S whistleblower was saying what a mess things were in at Eton Dorney.
Posted by: Andy Capp Jul 19 2012, 05:45 PM
Whilst paying £6.80 p/h, they were hardly going to get Britain's finest.
Posted by: Jayjay Jul 19 2012, 06:01 PM
Find it shocking that this is the company that the UK will use if we need troops after the military redundancies.
Posted by: Cognosco Jul 19 2012, 07:33 PM
Yes worrying as this is one of "Call me Dave" favored companies.
Posted by: dannyboy Jul 20 2012, 09:53 AM
I have a feeling G4S were under the false impression they'd get lots of eager people who wanted to be something to do with the Olympics. So, at first many sign up. When they realised they'd be standing in a car park & not on the touchline, enthusiasm drained away & hence the sudden drop in numbers actually showing up for work.
Posted by: dannyboy Jul 20 2012, 09:55 AM
LOL.
I can see a masterplan here - Sack the soldiers, replace them with G4S employees drafted in from the jobcentres on minimum wage & send these 'soldiers' off to the World's troublespots.
Solves quite a few problems......genius.
Posted by: Newbelly Jul 20 2012, 09:56 AM
I think that is probably true! I wonder if the improving weather may bring a few back?
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