Big Four firms play down G20 protest fears

As City firms brace themselves for action by anti-capitalist protestors ahead of tomorrow's G20 summit, the Big Four accounting firms have said it would be business as usual for their staff today.

A Deloitte spokesman said the firm was not advising staff to work from home, although it had told staff who need to travel to and from London offices and to meetings, to be 'vigilant and report any suspicious items or activity to the police'.

Ernst & Young said: 'Our people's safety and security is our top priority. We have provided guidance and advice to all our staff on sensible precautions that should be taken to minimise any potential risks to both themselves and the firm.'

A spokesman for KPMG, which has an office in Canary Wharf, said it would be open for business as usual today and tomorrow.

A PricewaterhouseCoopers spokesman said the firm's London offices would have increased security but said that otherwise it was expecting the week to be 'business as usual.'

He added: 'Partners and staff working in client locations that are in areas affected, or that may be more likely to attract more direct attention, should consider the potential impact. They should plan ahead and make sure they can work from another PwC office, from home, or from an alternate client location.'

Rick Cudworth, head of Deloitte’s business continuity and resilience practice, advised businesses which could be affected by the G20 protests to make sure they have one or more sources of intelligence on events, such as through the Metropolitan Police and City Police and to prepare remote working, and employee information line messages.

He also recommended that companies put their security teams on stand-by.