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Olympic Games and Paralympic Games 2012: Security

House of Lords written question – answered at on 24 September 2012.

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Photo of Lord Maginnis of Drumglass Lord Maginnis of Drumglass UUP

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many phases of negotiations between G4S and the Home Office were necessary in order to determine the final number of security staff needed for the 2012 Olympic Games; on how many occasions the (1) numbers of such staff, and (2) contract price, were adjusted and by what percentage on each occasion; and what were the exact dates on which (a) the necessity for each increase was notified by G4S, and (b) each was agreed by the Home Office.

Photo of Lord Taylor of Holbeach Lord Taylor of Holbeach The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department

The contract to provide security staff for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is between the London Organising Committee, LOCOG, and G4S. The Government have not changed the basic requirement since the Olympic Security Strategy was first published in 2009: all LOCOG competition venues have always been intended to be island sites with 100% search and screening of pedestrians and vehicles.

LOCOG awarded the contract to G4S on 24 December 2010 to provide 2,000 guards. In August 2011, LOCOG began to discuss with G4S an increase in numbers under the contract. The exact number required had been refined as security planning necessarily had to follow preparations of the detailed Games competition schedule and finalising all venue plans. The deed of variation to the contract, signed by LOCOG and G4S on 15 December 2011, changed the specification so that G4S was now responsible for supplying up to 10,400 guards. The Home Office is providing £553 million to LOCOG for venue security.

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