Olympics security cockup down to software errors - report
Tech blunders at G4S lie behind mobilisation of troops
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A computer software failure caused the security fiasco at the Olympics, the Independent on Sunday has said, after talking to insider sources at security contractor G4S.
G4S defaulted on their Olympic security contract two weeks before the start of the games, meaning that 3500 members of the armed forces have been drafted in to provide basic security coverage for the Olympics. The security firm said they were unable to recruit and train enough guards to adequately police the site.
The Indy has suggested both that Home Secretary Therea May was aware of problems with G4S in September and that staff management software was to blame.
An insider said the root cause of the problem with G4S was its internal computer system which had failed to calculate staff rostering.
In a statement on the contract, G4S said:
We have recently encountered significant difficulties in processing applicants in sufficient numbers through the necessary training, vetting and accreditation procedures. As a result, we will be unable to deliver all of the necessary workforce numbers.
According to the Indy, the security firm offered to fulfill the contract at a price 25% less than that of competitors. ®
COMMENTS
Sorry but I call bollocks, it's all too easy to just blame "IT" for the problems, did no one at G4S managment actually look at the figures? We need "X" employees for the olympics, we currently have "Y" leaving us a shortfall of "Z". How the hell can a rostering programme lead them to a shortfall of that many staff? It's really not that difficult.
G4S management and by extension the government of the day who awarded them the contract are to blame for the fiasco, G4S for being snakeoil salesmen and the gov't of the day for not even pondering "I wonder why they're 25% cheaper than the nearest competitor?"
A pox on all of them.
Yeah right!
when you run out of people to blame the IT chaps always get a mention.
If anyone truly believes that it was an IT system then please leave this forum!
This was (sub)Human error, plain and simple.
The private sector at its finest.
Yet again the much maligned public sector is there to clean up the mess.
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