Policemake plansto fillgapsin security

POLICE OFFICERS drafted in to fill the gaps in security for Olympic events in Scotland left by the private contractor G4S will work overtime and could be brought in on their day off.

The security f irm conf irmed on Monday that off icers from nine police forces, including Strathclyde, would join 3,500 troops brought in to close a short-term gap in numbers.

Assistant Chief Constable Fiona Taylor, who is in charge of Glasgow’s Olympic preparations for Strathclyde, said the force would send a bill for the extra police work to the Home Office.

She told BBC Radio Scotland: “We are certainly not having to cancel leave at this point in time but we are looking at all other options — bringing people in on their rest days and indeed offering people overtime to cover these duties.

“What I should say at this point in time is that we are accounting for this extra policing activity very closely and at the end of the games we will be submitting a bill for that extra policing activity down to the Home Office, because clearly we don’t think it’s right that the taxpayer in Strathclyde, or indeed Scotland more nationally, should foot the bill for another agency’s inability to deliver a service.”

She added: “We are working very closely and on an ongoing basis with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) and G4S to understand exactly what the situation is with the G4S staffing position.”

Picture: HEMEDIA. Security was tight in Glasgow yesterday as the city prepares for the Olympic Games football matches at Hampden Park.