Home Affairs Committee: evidence sessions on Olympics security and policing

The Home Affairs Committee will convene at noon in Committee Room 15 to hear the evidence presented. This will be followed at 12.45 pm by Stephen Greenhalgh(deputy Mayor of London for policing and crime) who’ll then supply evidence on policing in London.

Committee chairman Keith Vaz MP said: “The Committee intends to conclude its inquiry into Olympic Security by the end of September. Sir Denis O’Connor was commissioned by the Home Office to produce a report on this issue last year.”

Vaz continued: “The Committee will also hear from the Home Secretary, the Permanent Secretary, Nick Buckles, Paul Deighton, Charles Farr, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and assistant commissioner Chris Allison so that we can establish the facts as to why G4S< was unable to deliver on its contract and how this situation was allowed to develop.”

Home Secretary Theresa May is set to give evidence on Olympic Games security this coming Thursday.

Swift Olympics justice

New figures issued by the coalition Government have revealed exactly how efficiently and effectively the courts and tribunals service operated during the Olympics.

In the criminal courts, a process was put in place to fast-track any cases directly connected with the London 2012 Games. To date, 84 such cases have been listed at London magistrates’ courts. Of the 84 fast-track cases, 36 have already been dealt with by the magistrates’ courts while 28 cases have been sent or committed to the Crown Court.

The courts are now looking to deliver the same efficient service throughout the Paralympic Games.

Courts minister Jonathan Djanogly said: “I’m impressed by the dedication and commitment of the courts in dealing efficiently with these cases. Following on from the summer disturbances last year, this is another example of how flexible and effective the criminal justice system can be. I’m confident this will continue throughout the Paralympics.”

The minister concluded: “In the future we plan to continue this efficiency drive by rolling out digital working across the system, removing unnecessary bureaucracy and maximising the use of video technology to allow more cases to be heard without delay.”

MPs to hold follow-up evidence session on unauthorised phone tapping

Deputy assistant commissioner Sue Akers QPM of the Metropolitan Police Service will also give evidence tomorrow, following up on the Home Affairs Committee’s report in the last session on unauthorised tapping into (or hacking) of mobile communications

This evidence session takes place at 11.15 am, also in Committee Room 15.

“The Committee produced a major report on phone hacking last summer,” added Keith Vaz. “We will be very interested to hear what Sue Akers has to say about the progress of Operations Tuleta, Elveden and Weeting. We will also be asking her about the future of these operations as she is set to leave the force.”

The Committee published its report on unauthorised tapping into – or the hacking of – mobile communications (HC 907, Session 2010-12) in July 2011. It’s available on the Home Affairs Committee website.

All the latest information on the Olympic security inquiry may be found on the dedicated pages of the Home Affairs Committee’s site.