Investigators will not be pressed into warranted roles, says Theresa May

The Home Secretary has defended the Metropolitan Police's decision to draft staff from G4S to assist with a major investigation– and said she was not discouraged by the firm’s failure at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Addressing members of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, Theresa May said she was comfortable with the help being given to Operation Yewtree – which is currently probing historic sexual abuse allegations.

During the hearing, Mrs May was asked by Chairman Keith Vaz whether she was “relaxed” about the firm providing assistance, “given what happened at the Olympics”.

Mrs May confirmed that G4S staff were helping with “support matters”. But she added: “You cannot transpose them with what happened at the Olympics”.

The Home Secretary also told Committee members that she did not expect private organisations to “carry out (matters) that require warranted powers”.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it has temporarily taken on 20 extra staff via Reed Specialist Recruitment to assist in Specialist Crime and Operations.

Op Yewtree was sparked after sex crimes carried out by the late television presenter and DJ Jimmy Savile came to light in September last year.

Nearly 70 warranted officers have been working on the probe, which has seen several high-profile arrests. It has so far cost in the region of £1.3 million.

As previously reported on PoliceOracle.com, the organisers of the Games were left with a shortfall of thousands of security staff after G4S was unable to meet its commitment.

The gap was met by police officers and members of the armed forces, and saw senior executives with the company called to explain their actions before MPs.