With hate crimes up by 42% since the EU referendum result, the Conservative government is privatising the EASS (Equality Advisory and Support Service) which is a lifeline for people facing human rights issues or discrimination.
After a tendering process, they are awarding the contract to G4S. The same company which has demonstrated shocking track record of human rights breaches, and for failing government contracts wasting millions in taxpayers’ money. Prime Minister May wishes to put them in charge of the national helpline responsible for providing support to people facing discrimination, something which is deeply concerning considering their history.
This would be like putting BP in charge of enforcing environmental protections. On top of that, there are claims that the government may have failed to follow all the necessary steps before awarding the contract to G4S. Online campaign group SumOfUs is currently trying to fundraise to bring a legal case to reverse the decision to award G4S the contract.
With G4S’s very public failings, surely the company has no business anywhere near a contract like this.
- They bungled the Olympics security contract
- Recently left a dialysis patient stranded at home after taking over the contract for patient transport in Kent
- In Lincolnshire, G4S control room staff were suspended after allegations that they made bogus 999 calls to improve their perceived performance
- Even more seriously, they stand accused of assaulting children in a UK young offenders’ unit
- Prisoners are alleged to have been tortured at a prison run by G4S in South Africa
- and putting an unborn child at risk of injury while deporting a wheelchair-using pregnant woman
Now the Conservatives want that same company to run a helpline to support those facing discrimination or human rights abuses. It beggars belief!
Theresa May must step in to prevent this contract being handed over, and proper due diligence checks should be made before awarding such a sensitive contract over to a private company.
* Barry Holliday Barry Holliday is Lib Dem PPC for Nottingham South, Nottingham City Lib Dems vice-chair & campaigns officer. He is a secondary school teacher of History & PSHCE and Notts County FC fan
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7 Comments
G4S are unfairly bullied by the hard left. If the company was anything like as bad as the left like to make out, they would have been shut down a long time ago. The mere mention of G4S makes them spit acid, in much the way mentioning Nick Clegg does.
We should be supporting the privatisation to G4S, and looking at other government services that G4S could provide instead. The country should rally round G4S and support its aims to diversify its business.
I’m happy to sign and support this petition.
As Stimpson says, the brand is toxic and people using this kind of service need to believe that it will be impartial and supportive; otherwise, they won’t use it.
To be fair though, if the government don’t actually want many people using it then appointing G4S makes perfect sense. The discrimination and equality figures will look awfully good.
Stimpson,
Ever heard of crony capitalism? If you believe in privatisation why franchise everything to one company? For that matter why franchise it rather than privatise it. Personally, I see no advantage, either commercial or social, in handing a service like this over to a company like G4S. I think it’s just the result of trying to please the economic right with token gestures to free-market dogma.
Could you tell us the comparative number of errors made by public sector bodies doing similar work ?
I am absolutely in favour of good private companies taking on government responsibilities , and absolutely against bad ones doing so !
Why do lousy companies that do not deserve to survive in the market place ,and possibly would not if not employed by government , get in to the good books of the crony capitalist employer that on these occasions , is government ?!
I had a strong feeling it wasn’t a 500% increase, which was the alarmist conclusion of a single rag, whilst everyone else quotes between 40 and 50%.
G4S are a hate figure of the left.
To be honest though the police / armed forces / prison officers / childrens’ homes / probation service and other stuff which in many cases is state run is hardly scandal free. It is just easier to bully G4S than address the issues.