May warned about G4S 10 months ago

The Culture Minister Jeremy C has popped his head round the door: -

"But Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt today defended the beleaguered security giant, insisting it was 'completely normal' for contractors on projects like the London Olympics to fail to meet their commitments".

Had this same problem back in 1948 then did they? if so didn't learn much
from it then!!

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The Kite Fliers

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Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

Had this same problem back in 1948 then did they? if so didn't learn much
from it then!!

Not quite Nick. Those games were unofficially known as the "Austerity Games".

No Olympic village was built & existing accommodation & stadiums were used. It seems our politicians back then knew the value of money!

"The event came to be known as the Austerity Games due to the economic climate and post-war rationing. No new venues were built for the games and athletes were housed in existing accommodation instead of an Olympic Village. A record 59 nations were represented by 4,104 athletes, 3,714 men and 390 women, in 19 sport disciplines. Because of their roles as aggressors in World War II Germany and Japan were not invited to participate; the USSR were invited but chose not to send any athletes. The United States team won the most total medals, 84, and the most gold medals, 38. The host nation won 23 medals, three of them gold.

At the time of the Games food, petrol and building rationing was still in place in Britain; because of this the 1948 Olympics came to be known as the "Austerity Games".[Athletes were given increased rations, the same as those received by dockers and miners, which meant 5,467 calories a day, instead of the normal 2,600. Building an Olympic Village was deemed too expensive; athletes were therefore housed in existing accommodation. Male competitors stayed at RAF camps in Uxbridge, West Drayton and Richmond; female competitors in London colleges".

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Those of us that are rather more in tune with the real world, and keep abreast of current happenings, rather than quoting others old statements, will have just a few minutes ago finished hearing The Home Secretary speaking live in the House of Commons, giving yet another robust response to a question about Olympic security.

It is becoming more evident that some of those that choose to display continuing negativity about the Olympics, must have some hidden agenda to discourage visitors to the UK during the next few weeks, to the detriment of our economy. Perhaps they don't own any shares in McDonalds?

The Olympics will be a safe and great success, and I just feel sad that some of my own countrymen are so hell bent on wanting to denigrate it. They can whinge and moan all they like once it's all over, and I have absolutely no doubt that they will. But wouldn't it just be nice if they would just refrain in the meantime.

Above is the old way of the world, thay have just had it all to damn easy.
Today, Politicians had better get used to the new way...where people question
things more and wont more and more accountability and more say on things.

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The Kite Fliers

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Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

There should be no need whatsoever for recriminations. The UK was awared the games in 2005 & it's only now that we are seeing cock up & after cockup?

What planet are these so called "leaders" on?

I see you're stil attempting to feather your nest! No one is sniping! We are just showing concern over the wasted opportunities & money - our money at that - on useless arguments between organisations & politicans.

This should never have happened regardless of your ill founded & irreleant comments.

You're coming across as one who believes in the "ends justify's the means" & "as long as the event is successful, sod everyone elese as long as individuals like you have something to show your pride in your country!

What pride? Scandals galore for the past 4 years - nice country we have!

Yeah I know - banana republic time again, just who do you think you are?

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Sorry if that's the impression that you're getting. The impression that you're giving is that you defend, bribery, corruption, incompentence,& gross negligence.

I'm all for the Olympics, the World Cup, the Ashes etc etc & have often seen these sports live rather than on TV (with the exception of the Olympics of course).

However, having VIP lanes in a nation's capital? Hello USSR & egotisical leaders!

SEVEN YEARS, more than enough time to arrange the safety & security of the games. But what I believe is that most people that have concerns is that the 7 years have been used to fill the pockets of those who do not care about the sport, people or the nation itself.

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Totally disgraceful

"Police, meanwhile, have had to deploy extra officers at short notice from eight UK forces to do Olympic security work after the company's staff failed to turn up to venues".

"The cost of accommodation for troops would also be covered and the G4S chief said bonuses would be paid to military personnel if this was deemed appropriate".

So tents are now classed as accomodation for the troops? They've had their leave deferred & their families disrupted - surely THIS great nation can do better than that!

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With the bill at £298 million with £50 million of that being their "management fees", I'm pretty sure that many in the current economic climate would consider that above "peanuts".

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I also heard that many recruits, especially ex-police, were quoted hourly rates which were acceptable for the work offered. Then, when requested to attend confirmed actual pay was just above the minimum wage and not acceptable to the recruit who did not turn up.

Could this be another factor in G4S's troublesome shambles?

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It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues

Sorry, atm you posted, I was reading the article regarding Nick Buckles in the inquiry, where he stated that G4S should keep the "management fees of £50 million".

Totally Agree with your comment.

If I was the PM at COBRA I would have asked the Chiefs of Staff and the Chief Constables, to draw up plans to cope in the event that G4S couldn't provide even 1/2 of what they now say they can provide. I would also have asked them to draw up further plans to even take over from those, judging by the reports of inadequate training that are appearing. But I'm not, but I wouldn't be surprised if I wasn't that far off the mark.

You're more than likely spot on. The moment this debacle cropped up, it's more than likely that a "worst case scenario" entered the planning stage.

The Olympics will happen, they will be safe, and Britain will make sure of it. Mind you, so many heads look like rolling afterwards, that there won't be enough spikes on London Bridge !!

Totally agree as this was never in doubt. The main questions are "Why was this allowed to happen", "Why were "consultants" allowed to enter the fray & siphon off funds"

A more damning scenario could be on the cards if the government continues with its plans to privatise many functions of the Police to this company - however, should that happen, it should be in in it's own thread.

Whichever way one on looks at the situation - It's scary!

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This is absolutely scandalous! They get free travel on the buses & underground for themselves & their families: they have the protection of the Working Time Directive as well as EU/GB tachograph regulations as to their working & driving times while on duty: They get a decent weeks wages: so cannot understand why this was allowed to happen......

Bus Drivers Olympic Bonuses

EU/GB Driving Regulations

Working Time Directive

Not a bad salary for a 38 hour week

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Fair enough reply, but incorrect.

Railway Bye-laws forbid train crews from working their rest days & the only way round that is when the crews are on night shift, but that has to reflect on the following weeks duties (known in the industry as RDC's - Rest Day Covers}, in that instead of the one rest day that week, it must be two (& normally it is Fri & Sat).

As for the buses, the WTD & Tacho regulations come into play, as drivers just cannot do extra shifts willy nilly - if they did, it could cost them their driving licences.

This just smacks of the unions attempting to regain their lost powers - this will come back to haunt them!

As for TFL, they're not really bothered as all they have to do to reclaim the lost funds is to increase the "Congestion Charge"....

...or for that matter, just extend it's range to take in more of Greater London.

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Germans laugh at 'Olympic disaster' as top magazine brands 2012 Games 'one big, soggy mess'

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me@rescam.org

But as I opined in my post, there comes a time when the sniping has to stop, and we should all pull together for the common good of the event and the country, and I think that time is now. Both sides of the House and everyone else, wholeheartedly agrees that we need these games to be the best success that we can make them. There will be plenty of time for recrimination afterwards, of which I suspect there will be quite a lot!!!

So this scuppers that quote then...sniping? Hmmn,,,,there seems to be a hell of a lot of snipers in the Civil Service.........

Get a grip, MP's urge

"Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has criticised a planned strike by thousands of Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members who work at the Home Office - including airport immigration workers - which threatens to disrupt the Games".

I believe the Army could do with snipers of that calibre in Afghanistan!

Edit: More potential disruption!

Easy Money Team Drivers scheduled strikes for 6/7/8 August

Maybe they can drive the trains to Afghanistan transporting the Civil Servants & on their arrival, keep Del-boy there - more than likely the UK will recover a lot faster!

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So much for people's choice!

What next? Telling us when & where to use the Net?

Coe defends Olympic branding

So wearing a T-Shirt with French Connection UK the Olympics on it will prevent me from seeing the games? So will I be entitled to a refund on the tickets? Or will I be arrested & on what charge?

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Goon Alert! Goon Alert!

Goons in the block....

Central London now has "Info squares" painted on the pavements (footwalks) for example, the Olympic park is equivalent to 327 football pitches.......yeah? so what? Is this what our tax money is going on? Or is this G4S saying "sorry"? Or more than likely, orders from the Ministry of Silly Walks.

Looking North from the Olympic stadium.....



Must be a big razor Gillette.....

Plenty of buildings have these "rollers"

now for some sirius news....

Just what the hell Mallet Street & Torrington Street (& other streets in the vicinity) have to do with the Olympics? Hundreds of goons (Sorry - TMC's: Traffic Management Contractors) with "Permit Checkpoints" - shades of "Checkpoint Charlie".....

These areas are nowhere near the "VIP" lanes of the ORN (Olympic Road Network) so why the no parking restrictions until the 14th August?

On a final note: Boy oh Boy is our money being wasted!!!!!

Coming off the M11 onto the A12, every 50 feet on both sides of the carriageway are signs stating ORN VIP Lane from 27/7-14/8 all the way through to Central London..... together with overhead digital signs...doh, if motorists are that blind, why aren't the police out in force to nab those drivers.....

& now for the good news....

G4S has changed uniforms..their security staff are now under the orders of APS....& these guys & gals actually turned up for work.... :)

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Profiteering & elitism at its worst!!!!!!

Corporate Sponsorship over zealousness slammed

NCP accused of "ripping off" customers

Yep!!! just got stung on that one myself. Normal charge for the time I stay at Bedford Avenue is normally between £10.00 - £11.00, todays charge for the same time = £20.00.

Absolute proof that those muppets in parliament don't give a shyte about us.....

No chauffeured cars & we're gonna watch it on TV

£298 million fee for Olympic security & they can't afford to pay their staff

& now the good news...... The Olympics without elitist muppets or G4S jobsworths to spoil it all... :)

Bobby Rocker

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Absolutely cracking photos...lucky girl...I'm envious.... :(

On top of the world

Unfortunately can't say the same for these asswipes.....

Minister's daughter exposes Olympic safety scandal

What B-liar can expect when he becomes "President" of Europe

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Go Bradley! The whole country is behind you :-)

Wiggins

Yep, absolutetly brilliant the UK got it's 1st tour de france winner.

Now as for the Olympics, he's just got to make sure he don't pick up any penalty "points" by cycling in the "VIP" lane.

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Well they haven't started yet, but Britain already gets olympic record....

Nice comparison of the games...

London's 3 games

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Any further mishaps & they've now got an excuse...blame the computers...

Westfield "Arabic" banners "Incoherent"

"Mr Doyle said he thought the mistake was likely to have been generated because of how software handles the words, rather than through an actual mistake in translation".

It advised that Arabic posters should be checked by a speaker of the language. With all the "so-called" prestige that London 2012 is supposed to bring, one would have thought that was a "given"

If the Torch can travel by tube, so can the muppets known nationally as "MP's"....

Olympic Torch goes for a ride

The new G4S employees......

G4S replacements

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