UMVA has learned that the City of Toronto faced a major security crisis during the first weekend of the World Cup, as over a hundred private security guards failed to show up for work, leaving police to fill the gap at significant overtime costs.
The sudden absence of these guards, who were hired by the city's contractor, exposed the vulnerabilities of the security plan and raised concerns about the city's ability to manage large-scale events. The guards, who were paid as little as $18 an hour, were largely inexperienced and young, with some earning only about $20 an hour.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the city's decision to go with the lowest bidder for the security contract ultimately backfired, as the chosen company, Star Security, was unable to deliver on its promises. "The city got what they paid for," said an insider involved in FIFA planning, who wished to remain anonymous.
In response to the crisis, Toronto Police stepped in to provide additional support, and the city was forced to hire extra companies to fill the void left by the absent guards. While city officials have downplayed the possibility of significant cost overruns, insiders suggest that the true cost of the overtime may be higher than initially anticipated.
UMVA has gathered that the city's World Cup secretariat has shifted its messaging on spending, initially claiming that costs remained within the approved $380-million budget. However, the actual cost of the security debacle may tell a different story, with some estimates suggesting that the city may have incurred substantial overtime costs.
The security industry has long warned about the risks of underpaying and undervaluing security personnel, and the World Cup incident has highlighted the need for more robust and reliable security arrangements. As one expert noted, the industry typically sees a no-show rate of 2% to 5%, making the 100-plus absent guards an unusually high number.
The city's experience has also raised questions about the wisdom of hiring inexperienced and low-paid security guards for high-profile events. With the World Cup still underway, the city will be under pressure to ensure that its security arrangements are robust and reliable, and that the mistakes of the first weekend are not repeated.
