3,500 troops drafted in after security firm blunder

Security firm G4S are eating their words after telling ministers just two weeks ago that they would be able to supply all guards required for the Olympics.

Late last night the firm had to admit they could not supply the number needed of 10,000 security staff. The armed forces have now been forced to step in and provide 3,500 troops to cover the firm’s back.

According to reports, Home Secretary Theresa May had to plead with the MOD for the extra manpower.

Other MPs in the House of Commons were less than impressed with the plan, with Labour’s Keith Vaz saying: “G4S has let the country down and we have literally had to send in the troops.”

Nevertheless, May was adamant this was the right thing to do in the situation and she was positive that the presence of the troops would mean a safe games for London.

Home Office minister James Brokenshire spoke to the press this morning saying: “We’ve been monitoring progress, challenging them [G4S], asking the questions, really going down and kicking the tyres and all those things, and they have been very robust about the fact that they would deliver on the contract.”

He did admit however, that they had known about some issues with the security giant for about two weeks, and that G4S had been “responsible” by owning up to the problem.

It is believed that many of the 3,500 soldiers who will be drafted in will have just returned from fighting in Afghanistan.

Eleanor Hooper