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Security recruitment: an Olympic-sized issue

The size of the sum earmarked for security at the 2012 Olympics highlights the importance of well-planned security recruitment

The organisers of the 2012 Olympics have announced that the event’s security costs are expected to rise by around a third to a total of £838 million – almost ten per cent of the total amount they expect to spend.

And the size of the amount they have earmarked, in both absolute and relative terms, highlights the importance of well-planned security recruitment.

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The details were reported on The Times website, which said, “Officials conceded yesterday that the security costs were difficult to gauge and could rise further in the event of unforeseen events, such as a terrorist attack.” The Olympic organisers are discussing the matter with Metropolitan Police, relevant Cabinet Committee and the Home Office, but will also be recruiting heavily from the private security sector.

To put the size of the security budget into perspective, the flagship Olympic Stadium in East London is expected to cost £496 million – twice the original amount planned, but still only half as much as the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will spend on security.

Recruitment difficulties blight Atlanta
The prominence of security in the ODA’s thinking is unsurprising, given the threat of a terrorist attack at what will be the highest-profile sporting event to be held in the UK since 1966. Since a bomb exploded at the Atlanta games of 1996, killing one person and injuring more than a hundred, the world has witnessed the World Trade Center attacks and the 7/7 bombings in London.

The Olympics was no stranger to terrorism before Atlanta – see Munich, 1972 – and the 1996 games were also marred by organisational gaffes; a poor approach to recruitment led to below-standard bus drivers and even police escorts getting lost – something which raises its own security risks. The ODA is doubtless also mindful of the crowd control issues that have plagued British football and even horse racing (as during the 1993 Grand National).

ODA understands importance of security recruitment
Little wonder, then, that the ODA is putting security recruitment at the heart of its budget – and providing an object lesson to people in charge of organising lesser events.

It’s not enough to be able to arrange a venue and participants. If the general public are going to be there, they need to be safe – and managed well themselves. The ODA understands this.

McKenzie Arnold: specialists in security recruitment
McKenzie Arnold Security specialises in the recruitment and placing of security personnel into positions, assignments and contract across the UK, Europe and now, with the help of our US partners, North America.

The McKenzie Arnold Security Recruitment department now offers a ‘clearing house’ service for businesses looking for highly skilled security specialists for short, long-term and temporary contracts.

The service can also introduce you to consultants who cover areas like the laws regarding human rights, diversity, financial investigation and interview techniques, and kidnap and extortion, health and safety, and security training.

McKenzie Arnold Security Recruitment has a database of more than 300 SIA-licensed close protection security officers. It can provide candidates with a wide range of key skills including first aid, foreign languages and firearms capabilities.