security firm G4S - private army

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Warning of a 'private army' running Britain after government increases spending on security firm G4S by £65million

Controversial firm saw income from UK taxpayer rise by 20% last year
Company earned £394million in 2012-13, up from £328.5million
Labour MP Barry Sheerman warns of over-reliance on private contractors

By MATT CHORLEY, MAILONLINE POLITICAL EDITOR

PUBLISHED: 12:36 GMT, 12 June 2013 | UPDATED: 08:42 GMT, 13 June 2013

Controversial security firm G4S has enjoyed a 20 per cent surge in government contracts despite a string of blunders, new figures show.

The company - which failed to recruit enough guards for the London Olympics - earned £394million from the taxpayer in 2012-13, up from £328.5million a year earlier.

The revelation sparked claims it was becoming the 'private army' of the state.

With just weeks before the London Olympics opened in July last year, G4S admitted it would not be able to provide the thousands of guards it had promised.

Its reputation was severely damaged when 3,500 troops were called in to provide security at the biggest events.

In the wake of the debacle MPs called on the government to think again before awarding more lucrative contracts to the firm.

But it seems to have done little to dent its reputation in Whitehall, and next week it will provide security guarding the world’s most powerful men and women at the G8 summit at Lough Erne.

Read more: Warning of a 'private army' running Britain after government increases spending on security firm G4S by £65million | Mail Online
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April 21, 2013 5:42 pm

G4S to quit key contracts in Israel

By Gill Plimmer

G4S, the world’s biggest security company by revenues, has confirmed it is planning to quit key contracts in Israel amid protests against its involvement in settlements within occupied Palestinian territories.

The company employs 6,000 people in Israel, where it provides and maintains screening equipment for several West Bank military checkpoints. It also manages security systems at the controversial Ofer Prison in the Occupied West Bank.

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But with sporadic international protests continuing both outside the FTSE 100’s headquarters in London and internationally, the company said it would exit the contracts covering Ofer, the checkpoints and the West Bank police headquarters when they terminate in 2015.

G4S to quit key contracts in Israel - FT.com

 

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THE world's richest man and the world's biggest security company are working on the same team.

Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, has been revealed as an investor in G4S, with a stake of more than 3 per cent.

G4S was the security company accused of bungling security at the 2012 London Olympics.

The investment is divided between the charity run by him and his wife, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation*, and his asset management firm Cascade Investment.

Bill Gates buys into world's largest security company | Ipswich Queensland Times

*eugenicists