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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police 'shortage' for 2012 Games | Police 'shortage' for 2012 Games |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A lack of security staff for London's Olympics means veteran police officers must be brought out of retirement, a senior police figure has said. | A lack of security staff for London's Olympics means veteran police officers must be brought out of retirement, a senior police figure has said. |
| More than 1,500 officers will also have to be brought to London from other parts of the UK to guard the Games. | More than 1,500 officers will also have to be brought to London from other parts of the UK to guard the Games. |
| And cuts to police dogs and horses will now have to be reversed to provide the level of protection required, Assistant Met Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said. | And cuts to police dogs and horses will now have to be reversed to provide the level of protection required, Assistant Met Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said. |
| Organisers and ministers will receive a full report on security on Thursday. | Organisers and ministers will receive a full report on security on Thursday. |
| Officials and senior police officers have been meeting to discuss arrangements for the Olympics, when a huge security operation will be required. | Officials and senior police officers have been meeting to discuss arrangements for the Olympics, when a huge security operation will be required. |
| This will include a 5,000-strong police presence, assembled mostly from London-based officers but also, it has now emerged, from other UK forces. | This will include a 5,000-strong police presence, assembled mostly from London-based officers but also, it has now emerged, from other UK forces. |
| Earlier concerns | Earlier concerns |
| Mr Ghaffur, who is overseeing security at London's Games for the Metropolitan Police, told the meeting there could never be enough personnel for security. | Mr Ghaffur, who is overseeing security at London's Games for the Metropolitan Police, told the meeting there could never be enough personnel for security. |
| He said his force was asking all of London boroughs to share their resources for 2012. | He said his force was asking all of London boroughs to share their resources for 2012. |
| Met Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur oversees Olympic securityThe meeting also heard from David Evans, the project director of the British Security Industry Association, that the bid submitted for the Games had underestimated the personnel required from that sector. | Met Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur oversees Olympic securityThe meeting also heard from David Evans, the project director of the British Security Industry Association, that the bid submitted for the Games had underestimated the personnel required from that sector. |
| The bid estimated that 6,500 would be available, but in fact only 1,000 private security guards are available at present, suggesting far more training will be required in the next four years. | The bid estimated that 6,500 would be available, but in fact only 1,000 private security guards are available at present, suggesting far more training will be required in the next four years. |
| Mr Evans also highlighted security problems in previous Games, such as an explosion at the Olympic Park in Atlanta. | Mr Evans also highlighted security problems in previous Games, such as an explosion at the Olympic Park in Atlanta. |
| At this venue, the stewards were volunteers who ran away after the blast and did not provide policing needed, he said. | At this venue, the stewards were volunteers who ran away after the blast and did not provide policing needed, he said. |
| There were also security issues at the Winter Games in Turin in 2006, during which the police had to intervene, Mr Evans added. | |
| About £830 million of the total £9.3 billion Olympic budget has been allocated to security. | About £830 million of the total £9.3 billion Olympic budget has been allocated to security. |
| The Home Office is working to ensure that an estimate of the full security costs is ready by October. | The Home Office is working to ensure that an estimate of the full security costs is ready by October. |