G4S staff could replace Warwickshire Police officers

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The security firm that came under fire in the run up to the Olympics are now recruiting staff to carry out criminal investigations in Warwickshire to help the police force.



News that G4S could recruit staff to supplement or even replace police officers has divided opinion among the two candidates vyng for the post of Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire.

The “civilian investigators,” as they would be known, would carry out many of the duties normally undertaken by serving police officers, including, investigating crime, evidence gathering, statement taking, and working on “sensitive high-profile cases”- according to an advertisement on the G4S website.

The move has been condemned by Labour’s candidate for police commissioner, James Plaskitt, who says the recruitment drive is a step closer toward “police privatisation.”

“Anyone reading that job description would think it was the definition of a police officer’s work. Well, it is. It suggests to me that we have indeed lost too many officers in Warwickshire as a result of government-imposed cuts, and now the force is turning to G4S to plug the gaps,” Mr Plaskitt said.

He’s also concerned the “civilian investigators” - who would work in Nuneaton, Rugby and Leamington - are to be recruited by a company that failed to deliver on its security commitments in the run up to this year’s Olympics. Closer to home, they were also the security firm used at this year's GlobalGathering festival.

Mr Plaskitt has pledged in his manifesto to address the shortfall of officers in the Warwickshire force, where officer numbers have slumped from over 1,000 to 800.

However, the Conservative candidate for the police commissioner role - Fraser Pithie - does not share Mr Plaskitt’s concerns, in fact, the temporary recruitment of investigation staff by Warwickshire Police via G4S has his support.

“I am pleased that Warwickshire is focusing on cutting crime and using efficient and effective means to do so. The vast majority of people and businesses across Warwickshire are not interested in political dogma being applied to the police but they are interested in cutting crime. Further, I understand that any such staff employed will be vetted and under the direct control of Warwickshire Police,” Mr Pithie said.

He describes the recruitment drive as a “flexible approach” which will help Warwickshire Police reduce crime even further than the 7% reduction so far this year.

“These investigative staff will enable Warwickshire Police to focus even more on those criminals who commit acquisitive crime, which includes house burglary, car crime and robbery,” said Mr Pithie.