| It was confirmed today, however, that a convicted criminal was given access to the heart of RAF Leuchars because his employer failed to make background checks before giving him a job.
The company at the centre of the row, specialist defence catering company ESS Support Services Worldwide, confirmed today it broke with procedure by employing a member of catering staff without security clearance at the base, because it deemed him to be of “low security risk”.
However, when later background checks revealed he had a conviction —understood to involve a 10-year-old driving offence — the man had to be escorted from the base and was told he could no longer be employed there.
Today, a spokeswoman for ESS told the Tele, “The man was not security checked before being given a job because he was deemed to be of low security risk.
“This situation was an exception, not the norm as security clearance takes place for everyone else. I can confirm no one is currently employed at RAF Leuchars without security clearance and this situation will not happen again. Our procedures have been tightened.”
Leuchars is the first RAF Strike Command operational station to choose a private company to provide its catering, retail and leisure services and, because ESS is on a contract, staffing issues rest with the company and not RAF Leuchars.
But it was made clear today that news of the situation has reached the highest level within RAF Leuchars and a very serious view was being taken.
Confirmation of the security breach comes as the row continues over ESS staff pay.
As reported by the Tele, ESS, which took over the RAF Leuchars catering, retail and leisure contract from the Ministry of Defence in April, has found itself embroiled in talks with the Transport and General Workers’ Union over wages.
The TGWU is “outraged” at the treatment of staff amid claims that many of the 65+ workers are being paid a lower hourly rate than agreed and have not been paid overtime. Several members of staff have resigned.
ESS has claimed “teething problems” have led to the delays and has apologised to employees and expressed its wish to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency.
The TGWU has made formal representations to the company and the MoD, and has said meetings are due to take place soon. |
