SECURITY GUARDS ARRESTED OVER DRUGS AND EXPLOSIVES
EL News desk: A huge security review was ordered yesterday at the Olympic Games park in east London after two guards were caught with explosives. According to Police a 40-yearold woman dog handler was arrested after searching her vehicle Police found Semtex and a substance suspected to be cocaine in her possession. It has also emerged that a man aged 43 was arrested at his home in Wales yesterday on suspicion of possessing an explosive substance. He was being questioned today at an east London police station. Both suspects are believed to be employees of London 2012’s official private security contractor G4S.
The arrests are deeply concerning and hugely embarrassing for the Olympic authorities, only weeks earlier the company was awarded a £130 million contract to protect the 500-acre site. As part of the deal, it will supply 10,000 guards for security at all the Games venues across Britain. The woman was arrested on Tuesday at a car park in Pudding Mill Lane, just yards from the Olympic stadium. Yesterday she was bailed in connection with the explosives after being charged with possession of Class A drugs Sources from the Police say they have no evidence of criminal intent or connection with terrorism but the arrests undermine claims about the level of security at Britain’s most tightly monitored building site.
G4S, formerly Group 4 Securicor, has provided security at the Olympic Park site since 2008 and other sporting sites including Wimbledon and Aintree. Scotland Yard said officers recovered explosives thought to be Semtex. It is believed the amount found was small enough to fit in a trouser pocket, and would have been used to train the dogs in the woman’s charge to scent explosives at the site. Some handlers are thought to source their own supplies. Police are believed to be investigating the possibility it did not come from a licensed stock held for training. Olympic Site Support Unit officers swooped as the guard got into her car on Tuesday evening after a tip-off. Another car was stopped moments later on the M11 nearby and more searches were carried out at homes in London and Kent – but no further substances were found. The dramatic scenes took place only hours after a high-level delegation from the International Olympic Committee attended a ceremony at the Stratford site to mark the completion of the £486 million Olympic stadium.
The Olympic Delivery Authority said: “There are robust measures to ensure the safety and security of the Olympic Park. We are working with the police in their investigation. At no point has the safety and security of the Olympic Park been put at risk.” G4S said: “Our canine services team is licensed to hold small samples of explosives for training purposes and have to undertake rigorous training and follow strict operational processes.
“Our ODA canine services teams are highly effective because the dogs are able to train regularly using ‘live’ aids. All dog handlers are fully vetted and operate to the highest industry standards. G4S take breaches of operational processes very seriously and are assisting the police with their inquiries.” G4S is the world’s largest security company with 625,000 workers and 110 offices around the globe.
It offers a wide range of services, including guarding Heathrow and other major European airports as well as cash deliveries for banks.
The company earns more than £600 million from the government for services including running four prisons, three immigration removal centres and 675 court and police cells, and is the second-largest private employer in the world, ith a £7 billion turnover. On winning the 2012 contract this month, G4S managing director Mark Hamilton admitted “nothing compares to the scale and complexity” of the Games’ security operation.
A case of corporate manslaughter is being considered against the company over the death of an Angolan deportee who collapsed on a BA flight after being restrained by three G4S guards.