G4S is the UK's biggest private security company, with its government contracts alone worth over £600 million. Responsible for security services, managing detention centres, prisons, and 675 court and police station holding cells, G4S have also just been granted the £100 million contract for providing 10,000 security guards for the upcoming olympics.

Whilst G4S still seem to be government favourites, their record is far from spotless. The firm lost their previous 'forcible deportation' contract last September after receiving 773 complaints of abuse – both verbal and physical. The final straw came with the death of Jimmy Mubenga in October 2010, an Angolan asylum seeker who died as a result of his forced deportation by G4S guards. Two of the guards are on bail facing criminal charges, whilst G4S is still waiting to hear whether they are to face corporate manslaughter charges.

Now, asylum seekers in Yorkshire and Humberside are expected to accept this multi-national, money-hungry, security company as their landlords.

Sunday 27 May 2012

G4S News Update

G4S update // May 15 - 27th, 2012

G4S set to profit from Greece's economic crisis, Business Week, May 15th 2012: Like circling vultures, G4S are said to be monitoring the potential for new, lucrative cash-handling contracts in Greece as fears about the nation's withdrawal from the Euro continue to rise. 

Teresa May denies 'conflict of interest' claims in Lincolnshire Police deal, BBC, May 17th 2012: The validity of a new policing contract awarded to G4S has been put under pressure as a delegate at the Police Federation Conference asks the Home Secretary to clarify her decision to appoint Tom Winsor, a lawyer at White and Case, to conduct an independent review of policing policy whilst his parent law firm was negotiating the multi-million pound contract deal on behalf of G4S with Lincolnshire Police.


Libya's foreign ministry refuses licence to G4S, Libya Herald, May 27th 2012: Libya's post-revolutionary authorities have once again told G4S that they aren't welcome, after the security giants secured a deal with the EU to protect infrastructure. 


G4S blames organisers for spiralling security costs, Daily Telegraph, May 24th 2012: As the security costings for London's summer Olympics increase, G4S blame Olympic organisers for underestimating the true size of the contract. Apparently, G4S staff have also been told to 'smile' and 'avoid over-zealous conduct' during the games. 

Time might run out for Olympic security recruitment, Financial Times, May 27th 2012: Mark Hamilton, the managing director of G4S' security personnel, fears that time may run out for Olympic security recruitment as 10,300 of the necessary 13,300 guards are still awaiting training. 
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