4:26PM, Mon Jul 23, 2012

Olympic Football: G4S Replaced By Local Security Firms In Newcastle

By Ruth Holliday Location: St James' Park

Security for Olympic football matches at St James' Park will be handed over to local security firms after G4S failed to recruit enough staff.

Private security companies that normally keep the home of Newcastle United safe on match days will take over responsibility for Olympic football fixtures, providing around 500 staff for each game.

They include Phoenix Security, based at Camperdown Industrial Estate.

A spokesman for G4S confirmed that they will no longer be providing security for the games, which begin at St James' Park on July 26.

A spokesperson said: "It will be taken over by private security firms that already provide security on match days.

"It was always the case that they would have been involved and we would have supported them.

"They are now doing it exclusively and have requested additional support from police."

In a statement, the London 2012 Organising Committee LOCOG said: "Because of issues with deployment of G4S staff, LOCOG has asked the company to focus on providing security for the football hotels and training grounds in Newcastle but not St James’s Park.

"LOCOG is in discussion with several companies about providing the security for the venue and details are currently being finalised."

Stephen Savage, Director of Regulatory Services and Public Protection at Newcastle City Council, said: "We can confirm that LOCOG local management have realised that G4S numbers are extremely low and having taken advice from local partners including Newcastle City Council, they have opted for local procurement.

"This will not affect the safety of spectators or competitors in any way.

"In fact these are highly-trained staff with years of experience in providing security for events in the North East, including at St James' Park.

"It means local jobs for local people which is also good news."

Northumbria Police declined to comment, saying it was a matter for LOCOG.