PALESTINE solidarity campaigners hailed a small victory yesterday following Manchester council’s decision to draw up a “robust” ethical procurement policy which could spell the end of its contracts with disgraced security firm G4S.

For three years the city’s tireless Stop G4S campaign has been pressing Manchester City Council to end its contracts with the firm, which runs a range of council services.

G4S is heavily involved in Israeli prisons holding thousands of Palestinians, including many children.

It is under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office after overcharging millions of pounds of taxpayers’ cash in payment for tagging paroled criminals.

Campaigners with Stop G4S and Manchester Palestine Action gathered more than 3,000 signatures on a petition calling on council finance chiefs to meet a delegation.

Stop G4S organiser Norma Turner addressed the council’s finance scrutiny committee yesterday.

She told the Morning Star that the council did not disagree with what the campaigners were saying, but legally it could not target G4S.

However “it is willing to have a robust ethical procurement policy. We expect it to be robust enough to exclude G4S.”

G4S still holds lucrative contracts with the Department of Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Justice.

Ms Turner said the nationwide campaign against G4S would continue.

peterlazenby@peoples-press.coms