Olympics Security Not in ‘Shambles,’ UK Home Office Says

The British home secretary said Olympics security has not been compromised, though it was discovered only Wednesday that the U.K. needed to add 3,500 military troops for security.

The Olympic Games are slated to begin at the end of July.

“Contingency planning has always been central to our security work, should any changes be needed at this late stage,” Home Secretary Theresa May, responding to criticism, said on Thursday, according to a transcript.

“As the venue security exercise has got underway, concerns have arisen about the ability of G4S to deliver the required number of guards for all Olympics venues and within the timescales available,” she said.

According to May’s office, the troop count during the Games should be increased to 17,000.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper accused May of presiding over “another Home Office shambles,” and Keith Vaz, chairman of the House of Commons home affairs committee said contractor “G4S has let down the country and you have literally had to send in the troops,” according to The Guardian.

May, however, denied Cooper’s allegations, saying that “it is not a shambles when the government takes the action necessary. Troops have always been part of the provision of venue security,” the newspaper reported.