Oops : G4S

**Fruity** · 16-07-12, 22:03

Originally Posted by Airtank

The police have a golden opportunity to cause a lot of problems by simply working to rule ( is there such a thing ) as if they actually manage to pull this off then they are making a rod for their own backs in the form of more cuts and layoffs

I don't think it would be easy to say (afterwards) "You coped with that, so you can now cope with less" and not have any evidence to the contrary.

The only way the police could cope with suddenly having to supply thousands of extra staff (as last year) would be to incur massive overtime bills and suffer (much) reduced staffing elsewhere within BCUs and for an extended period. The knock-on effects could potentially be demonstrated.

**Zanx** · 16-07-12, 22:21

I have to admit, the very thought of privatised plod fills me with dread. How do you deal with some pleb in a G4S uniform trying to nick you for speeding or some other misdemeanour? First port of call is to tell them to bugger off, second port of call is the cells. I'm not in the least bit comfortable with that scenarion and am shocked that it has even got as far as considering it. As far as I am concerned, G4S have done us a massive favour, now let's hope the idiots in charge of this country use a bit of common sense regarding policing and leave them be.

**NyseriA** · 17-07-12, 01:35

They're not considering letting private security THAT far into the police yet, but the proposals that they have made do account for almost everything but. There are some corners that see the traditional bobby as a retained in order to do everything that requires a use of force. That's wrong on so many levels, but besides that, it seems to forget that most times a police officer has to use force it is as a result of coming across something on patrol or being sent to a job.

**murcan** · 17-07-12, 05:28

Originally Posted by NyseriA

They're not considering letting private security THAT far into the police yet, but the proposals that they have made do account for almost everything but. There are some corners that see the traditional bobby as a retained in order to do everything that requires a use of force. That's wrong on so many levels, but besides that, it seems to forget that most times a police officer has to use force it is as a result of coming across something on patrol or being sent to a job.

Not to mention that if the copper isn't on the beat with the public and the only time they see him is with a battering ram or a gun it's going to change the atmosphere of the country and the job. Damaging it irreparably.

**Hudson** · 17-07-12, 07:45

Originally Posted by Zanx

I have to admit, the very thought of privatised plod fills me with dread. How do you deal with some pleb in a G4S uniform trying to nick you for speeding or some other misdemeanour? First port of call is to tell them to bugger off, second port of call is the cells. I'm not in the least bit comfortable with that scenarion and am shocked that it has even got as far as considering it. As far as I am concerned, G4S have done us a massive favour, now let's hope the idiots in charge of this country use a bit of common sense regarding policing and leave them be.

Ditto, this maybe the wake up call the country needs to stop dead the privatistion of the police service, its like a creeping cancer that eventually will mean a two tier police force with some of the 43 forces having G4S (or others) in key roles that are now occupied by either police officers or very experienced police staff.

If these muppets can not supply staff for a two week event, with years worth of notice, then i don't hold much hope for anything more challenging in the policing of the nation.

**Thermostat9** · 17-07-12, 07:46

Originally Posted by Hudson

Ditto, this maybe the wake up call the country needs to stop dead the privatistion of the police service, its like a creeping cancer that eventually will mean a two tier police force with some of the 43 forces having G4S (or others) in key roles that are now occupied by either police officers or very experienced police staff.

If these muppets can not supply staff for a two week event, with years worth of notice, then i don't hold much hope for anything more challenging in the policing of the nation.

After G4S, who still thinks that outsourcing works? | Polly Toynbee | Comment is free | The Guardian

**Mussels** · 17-07-12, 08:09

Something's not right about the army 'suddenly' being drafted in to help, the article in the Evening Standard yesterday had photos of the army camp and said it was put up last month.

**melons** · 17-07-12, 08:15

Originally Posted by Mussels

Something's not right about the army 'suddenly' being drafted in to help, the article in the Evening Standard yesterday had photos of the army camp and said it was put up last month.

It's the increase in army numbers thats new, the army were planned to be involved for some time - the Evening Std is probably showing pics of camps that were planned sometime back

**gremlin** · 17-07-12, 08:51

I see they're being billetted down the road from me in Tobacco Dock. After coming back from the barren, desolate wasteland that is Afghanistan, Tobacco Dock will be one hell of a comedown for the poor bastards.

**Zanx** · 17-07-12, 08:59

Originally Posted by Hudson

Ditto, this maybe the wake up call the country needs to stop dead the privatistion of the police service, its like a creeping cancer that eventually will mean a two tier police force with some of the 43 forces having G4S (or others) in key roles that are now occupied by either police officers or very experienced police staff.

If these muppets can not supply staff for a two week event, with years worth of notice, then i don't hold much hope for anything more challenging in the policing of the nation.

Look at the way PCSO duties have changed, to start with they were just patrolling streets taking beer off drunks and calling in proper plod for more serious matters. Now they routinely accompany plod on traffic stops and other occasions, leeching underserved public respect from the police the are accompanying, the line between the two is becoming intentionally blurry, just watch the PSCO uniform gradually morph into something indistinguishable from coppers by the general public. Same goes for privatisation, politicians are cowards, they fear for their jobs and kudos, so rather than have the courage to say "we are privatising the police" and deal with the immediate and furious fallout from the public, they sneak it in though the back door, and like some sort of fungal infection, it creeps right up to the point that the politicians wanted, but without the fallout.

**Mussels** · 17-07-12, 08:59

Originally Posted by gremlin

I see they're being billetted down the road from me in Tobacco Dock. After coming back from the barren, desolate wasteland that is Afghanistan, Tobacco Dock will be one hell of a comedown for the poor bastards.

Next door to News International, I bet the Officers aren't happy about that.

**gremlin** · 17-07-12, 09:10

Originally Posted by Mussels

Next door to News International, I bet the Officers aren't happy about that.

Look. The Sun loves squaddies, they always harp on about it, you know...'Our Boys'.

Now see how the journos like getting into fisty-cuffs with pissed up squaddies down The Cape on Friday night.

**Greenman** · 17-07-12, 09:21

Originally Posted by chillitt

How fucking useless must G4 be not to be able to find 10,000 temps with 3 million unemployed...

Apparently they rang thousands, but none of them could get past the security questions...

**Craig Sterling** · 17-07-12, 10:17

Originally Posted by Greenman

Apparently they rang thousands, but none of them could get past the security questions...

Something that may have been missed...

G4S are the prime providers for the coalition governments work programme in three geographic areas of the UK.

Kent, Surrey & Sussex. Greater Manchester, Cheshire & Warrington. North East Yorkshire and the Humber.

The stated aim on the G4S work programme site is to help "Tens of Thousands" of people back into work.

They started to deliver the work programme last summer utilising the services of a chain of subcontractors in each of the above area's and I would have thought that it would have been quite simple to make sure that they identified and then trained some of the unemployed punters who have been referred to them (mandatory) by the DWP.

Not only would they have managed to fulfill the Olympic contract, but they would have also given a large number of the countries unemployed the opportunity of work and the chance that this work could move onto sustained employment for some in the future.

Piss up's and a brewery spring to mind.

**murcan** · 17-07-12, 17:37

Originally Posted by Thermostat9

After G4S, who still thinks that outsourcing works? | Polly Toynbee | Comment is free | The Guardian

While that article points out dangers in privatising the public sector it also illustrates why it can be so expensive for the private contractor to participate in government contracts and how the number of private companies that can participate end up being the only companies able to participate.