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'Unpaid' jobless Jubilee stewards

A security firm has allegedly forced a group of long-term unemployed jobseekers to sleep under London Bridge before working on the Diamond Jubilee river pageant. There are reports that the attendants were unpaid for their work.

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Jobseekers charity launch investigation

Tomorrow's People, the national employment charity who supplied security staff to private security firm Close Protection UK over the Jubilee weekend, say they are going to launch an investigation into allegations staff were forced to sleep under London Bridge.

What happened to our clients on their arrival in London was totally unacceptable and is contrary to the Tomorrow’s People way of operating.

We are very concerned at Close Protection UK’s lack of care for our clients and lack of attention to their safety and wellbeing. We are urgently reviewing our involvement with Close Protection UK.

– Abi Levitt, Director of Development, Tomorrow's People

The charity explained their relationship with the security firm, and stressed that no one was "obliged" to take part.

CPUK has been working with us in Plymouth and Bristol for the past six months. They have been involved in pre-employment training specifically for the security industry and supporting some of ourclients through their NVQ qualification.

Those clients need practical work experience and when CPUK offered the opportunity for stewarding work at the Jubilee event, our Employment Advisers notified appropriate people on the programme. None of these clients was obliged to take part and each has done so of their own choice.

– Abi Levitt, Director of Development, Tomorrow's People

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