Olympics security fiasco a body blow to the ideologues

The fiasco in Britain over G4S’ failure to provide security guards for the Olympics, is another body blow to the ideologues who believe that only the private sector can provide services effectively and efficiently.

G4S grew out of several mergers, including the firms Securicor and Group 4. Group 4, in particular, became a laughing stock in the early 1990s after its first contracts to transport prisoners from courts to jail were hit by one highprofile escape after another.

But the group has continued to grow as governments worldwide fall into the trap of thinking that outsourcing to the private sector is a sensible course.

Performance-pay advocates might also want to note that G4S chief executive Nick Buckles might be entitled to £20 million in pay and benefits if he loses his job in the wake of the Olympics security fiasco.

However, according to the Financial Times, the final sum is still subject to revision as a chunk of the potential pay-off consists of “performance-related” shares, which are subject to a clawback policy. Performance-related? Yeah, right. BILL COURTNEY

Khandallah quire money at all. I suspect Mr Glenn is just after publicity to help sell his book, and that he has more money than sense.

What next for him? world hunger?

Solving SCOTT HIGHAM-LEE

Island Bay the same vitriol that he levelled at the Crusaders.

I support the Crusaders but am not so naive and blatant as to not acknowledge that I’ve enjoyed the Hurricanes’ rise this year; the style of the Highlanders and the Chiefs starting to show their full promise have also been highlights.

If Reason feels so bitter about the Crusaders, I suggest he leaves on the next migrant boat to his motherland, where his lack of skill would be more at home than it is here.

GARTH MUSHET Blenheim [abridged]