The Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP

Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice

Home Office

2 Marsham Street

London SW1P 4DF

16^th August 2012 

Dear Nick,

I am deeply concerned by reports that G4S are recruiting staff in Warwickshire to carry out duties that are clearly the responsibility of police officers, such as house-to-house inquiries, giving evidence in court and undertaking "sensitive high-profile cases under limited supervision".

I understand that via its website G4S is advertising for civilian investigators to investigate crime, gather evidence, seize and view evidential material, take statements from victims and witnesses, undertake house-to-house inquiries, prepare files for the Crown Prosecution Services, attend court hearings and give evidence, and identify and trace offenders.

Such a move flies in the face of Ministerial guarantees that core policing tasks will not be  outsourced to private contractors, and is all the more alarming given G4S spectacular failure to deliver on the terms of its contract to provide security for the Olympic Games.

Privatising the police threatens the accountability of a vital public service - police personnel should be accountable to the communities they serve, not to business shareholders with business interests.

Please can you urgently clarify the G4S role in delivering police duties in Warwickshire and assure me that all police officer functions and police staff roles will be retained in the public sector?

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas MP Brighton Pavilion

Read the ministerial response here.