Olympic security officer vetting ‘cuts corners’ claim

ITV News has uncovered claims that workers at the Teeside offices of G4S are not making full checks on employment and educational history.

An anonymous whistleblower also claims that she and others have not been given a criminal records check before handling sensitive information from applicants.

She told ITV News:

“You do cut corners. We’re supposed to check employment history, to check the company on their form exists. We’re supposed to check educational history. But the only way to get through all the forms is to cut corners. It’s cut corners or lose your job. That’s what it seems to be.”

In a statement given to info4security, G4S said:

“All staff employed at our screening and vetting centres are approved and screened to an industry standard before they are given work by G4S. This standard does not require a criminal records check (CRC), but we go beyond the standard and include a CRC during an employee’s probationary period.

“G4S is working to a Government level of screening agreed by our client LOCOG and the Home Office and our performance is assessed against this level by the independent body, the National Security Inspectorate. Our screening processes are subject to continual review and adjustments are made where necessary to ensure efficiency, while quality and compliance are maintained.

“The screening conducted by G4S operates on many levels and no individual in the screening operation can complete an applicant through the process without it being cleared and checked by others, including experienced senior personnel. All London 2012 applicants who are vetted and screened by G4S go through a further screening process by the Games organiser LOCOG, which is overseen by the Home Office, before they are allowed to work.”

Read more about Olympic Security here

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