G4S said it can’t guarantee it can supply 10,000 guards it agreed to deliver
It could mean Army troops in their uniforms checking tickets and bags
Many troops will have be due time off after just returning from Afghanistan
Move raises fresh concerns about the ‘militarisation’ of the Olympics
The Armed Forces are to provide up to 3,500 extra troops for security duty at the Games after a private firm admitted it could not supply enough guards.
In a humiliating move, Home Secretary Theresa May has been forced to plead with the Ministry of Defence to release thousands more service personnel to work as security officers at London 2012.
The move, a fortnight before the Opening Ceremony, is a major embarrassment for organisers Locog and private security firm G4S, who many senior police officers blame for the shambles.
This morning, retired Colonel Richard Kemp, a former UK commander in Afghanistan, said the development would hit troops ‘very hard indeed’ as many will have just returned from Afghanistan and will be due well deserved time off with their families.
The Mail can reveal there have been growing concerns about security following a series of test events.
The 23,700-strong security force for the Games will be comprised of military personnel, private security guards and at least 3,000 unpaid volunteers.
Mrs May was forced to go cap in hand to the military because G4S cannot guarantee it will be able to supply the 10,000 guards it agreed to deliver.
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if i was the forces squardies i stay in barracks they put themselves up for job and now cant do it ,are they giving back the money they had to do the job no cant do that torys mates rule money for nowt jeff3