Controversial Olympic security firm G4S hiring staff to investigate crimes for police

The firm, which failed to recruit enough staff to secure the London 2012 Games as per its multi-million-pound contract, is supplying "civilian investigators" to Warwickshire police to take on "sensitive high-profile cases under limited supervision".

The Guardian reported that recruitment adverts for civilian investigators to work with the Warwickshire force appeared on the G4S Policing Solutions website last week.

Warwickshire police confirmed to the broadsheet that it would be using G4S to meet staffing needs.

"The requirements of the work we are currently recruiting for requires specialist investigative skills, but does not require the full warranted powers of a police officer," a Warwickshire police spokeswoman told The Guardian.

She added that using G4S allowed the force to fulfil needs for additional staff on a short-term, flexible basis.

The Guardian reported that Home Office figures show Warwickshire has lost more officers than any other force bar one, with just 802 officers on the force today, down from 1000 in 2008.

The G4S ad asks for applicants who can "undertake sensitive high-profile case inquiries, be able to carry out any role within a major incident room, and have specialist knowledge on all aspects of crime investigation".

The spokeswoman added that "Warwickshire police has a contract with the national recruitment agency Reed who in turn advertise on a number of agency sites, including G4S. Staff employed on a temporary basis are contracted to Warwickshire police by Reed, and will be vetted by the force in respect of their suitability".

However, The Guardian reported there was no sign of adverts for the posts with Warwickshire police on the Reed website.

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