G4S, the firm embroiled in a security fiasco at the London 2012 Olympics, is to provide support at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland in June, it was announced Thursday.
The British security giant, which suffered heavy losses and reputational damage after failing to provide thousands of the guards it pledged for the Games, will supply 450 staff to the event.
The British government said “lessons had been learned” by G4S after the Olympics.
Troops and police officers from across Britain will also be brought in to back up the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The Group of Eight world powers comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Britain is hosting this year’s summit, which is being held at Lough Erne, outside the town of Enniskillen in the southwest of Northern Ireland, on June 17-18.
G4S said its staff would provide stewarding, perimeter monitoring and securing access to venues.
The firm announced just days before the 2012 Games that it could not completely fulfil its £284 million ($440 million, 336 million euro) contract to provide 10,400 security staff for venues.
Britain had to draft in 4,700 troops at short notice.
G4S said in February it would lose £70 million over the fiasco.
Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, announcing the G8 security measures, said: “In relation to the Olympics, very serious concern was expressed about the failings of G4S.
“Lessons have been learned and the contracts awarded… take into account those lessons.”
The company has previously provided support to international summits in Britain, including the 2005 G8 in Gleneagles, north of Edinburgh and the 2009 G20 in London.
Villiers also announced that troops and 3,600 police officers from across Britain would be brought in to bolster the 7,500 from the PSNI.
Army helicopters will be used to fly world leaders and their entourages to and from the summit.
Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s police chief Matt Baggott said he expected thousands of protesters to descend on the province during the summit.
“We are expecting demonstrations in Belfast and we are expecting some in Enniskillen as well. I would anticipate thousands. There are many routes into Northern Ireland,” he said.
Olympic fiasco firm G4S to provide G8 summit security
