G4S 'repeatedly assured' on targets

The private firm G4S repeatedly assured ministers that they would overshoot their targets for recruiting Olympics security staff, the Home Secretary has said.

Theresa May said the under-fire firm repeatedly told ministers that they would be able to recruit enough private security guards for the Games.

G4S only admitted they would fall short last week, when an extra 3,500 troops were called in. Officers from nine forces will now join them to fill the shortfall.

Mrs May denied ministers had attended meetings before last week , that G4S would fail to meet its targets, saying that the firm repeatedly assured ministers it would "overshoot".

"G4S repeatedly assured us that they would overshoot their target," Mrs May told MPs.

"G4S only told the Government that they would be unable to meet their contractual arrangements last Wednesday and we took immediate action."

As well as 3,500 extra troops, police officers from nine forces have now been drafted in to close the gap.

G4S, which has seen its shares dive by as much as 10% following the Games security debacle, said venue security was being tightened "before the full complement of accredited staff have been assigned".

"This situation is being rectified over the coming days, which should lead to the withdrawal of police officers from those roles assigned to private security," said a G4S spokesman.