WRITTEN EVIDENCE
SUBMITTED BY
IAN LEWIS-HINDE
[OS 22]
Your committee has decided to call G4S to a committee
hearing next week to investigate their failure to deliver number
of security personnel requested of them and their quality.
I would, as a tax payer, like to know what good you
believe you are doing and more importantly why you feel the need
to do it at this particular point in time.
By going to the airways and by the media attention
your hearing will attract you are going to do inestimable damage
to the reputation of the London Games in the eyes of the wider
world, especially those intending to visit the games from overseas.
The likes of yourself and the media have created a level of fear
around the security which is quite unnecessary and unfounded.
Once again MPs are doing the bidding of the media by extending
the story and the inevitable negative headlines that will continue
to follow on. It is quite irresponsible.
What is an operational matters for LOCOG and the
Government alone, one that has been speedily resolved, you and
too many of your colleagues have turned into a crisis and drama
now with global visitor ramifications. The LOCOG remit is to provide
a security safe Games and until it proven this not the case there
is nothing for anyone to answer to a Home Affairs Committee.
This is the largest event of its kind ever put on
by the UK and like all such events will have its problems and
difficulties before and during the event. The test is whether
when things do go wrong the organisation is robust enough to take
the necessary action quickly enough. In this case that has proved
to be the case.
By putting G4S in the dock now you will take up much
needed time required by them to deliver on what they now say they
can, by implication you are damaging LOCOG at a time when they
need our support, you will create greater concerns around the
security at the Games which is not justified and more importantly
you will successfully once again bring adverse attention to our
country when we can least afford it. Bring to your committee the
Border Agency as well before the Games and then you will have
royally stuffed OUR Games for US!
You should adjourn your hearings, if there needs
to be one which I very much expect not, until after the Games
when everyone will have a better perspective as to what went right
and what did not.
July 2012
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