The exercises will encompass a range of scenarios that could impact on the smooth running of the 2012 Games, such as long queues or crowds, transport disruption or – God forbid – a terrorist attack.
They will test how Government departments, the police and emergency services respond, work together and share information with members of the public.
Home Secretary Theresa May said: “This programme of exercises will play a key role in helping deliver our commitment of a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
May continued: “We have a robust safety and security strategy. The testing of our plans, structures and responses to ensure they can deal with any incident is vital. It’s important we learn lessons ahead of the Games.”
The Home Secretary was also keen to reassure everyone that, with a year-to-go, the Government will “leave nothing to chance” in terms of the plans in place for delivering a Games that London, the UK and the whole world will enjoy in safe environments.
Indeed, safety and security funding for the Games has been protected to ensure the safety of all those participating, watching and visiting.
Overall responsibility for 2012 security
As Home Secretary, Theresa May holds overall responsibility for the security arrangements covering the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This follows on from the signed guarantee given to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) back in 2004.
To plan and deliver a safe and secure Games, the Home Office is working with partner agencies such as the police service, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), all of whom have a major role to play.
The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic safety and security strategy, which all involved agencies have signed up to, was first published in July 2009.
Following the recent audit and review of the Olympic and Paralympic safety and security programme, a revised strategy was published on 10 March this year. Alongside this, an information leaflet designed to explain to the general public how the Government plans on delivering a safe and secure Games in 2012 has also also been published.
Underpinning this activity, the Home Office has carried out an equality impact assessment of the supporting concept of operations.
Broad range of potential risks
In planning a safe and secure Olympic Games, the Government is necessarily taking into account a broad range of potential risks. As with other major events the discussions are not solely focused on combating the terrorist threat, but also take in public order issues, serious and organised crime and non-malicious incidents such as accidents and extreme weather.
The overall approach is led by the latest intelligence and regular risk assessments, in turn giving central Government the flexibility to respond to any changes between now and 2012.
At present, plans are based on the current threat level from international terrorism, which is set at ‘Severe’.
Funding the security operation
On Monday 13 December 2010, minister of state for policing and criminal justice, Nick Herbert, set out a new four-year settlement of Government funding for the police broken down by police authority.
The announcement, which was delivered in a written ministerial statement to Parliament, also outlined spending plans for Olympic safety and security for the remainder of the programme.
Herbert suggested that GB pound 600 million would be made available if necessary. However, the Government is confident it can deliver the programme for GB pound 475 million.
Safety and security plans are being developed for all Olympic and Paralympic venues, not just the Olympic Park.
Plans to secure the stadium, the most iconic of the Olympic venues, include the ODA’s comprehensive programme to reduce security risks through venue design, to protect the Park during construction and to put infrastructure in place that will provide additional security measures during the Games.
Unobtrusive but totally effective security
The Olympics is a sporting event, not a security event. The overriding aim is to make the policing and security operation as unobtrusive as possible while remaining effective, providing a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for people to enjoy the Games in complete safety.
Like other major events, spectators will notice security measures at various points, such as when they enter the venues. Familiar methods will be used that have been proven to work in days gone by, including bag searches, screening machines, CCTV and metal detectors.
As well as police officers, there will be a variety of event stewards, security officers, volunteers and emergency services staff on hand who will all be involved in keeping the Games safe and secure.
The International Olympics Committee’s representatives meet police and security officials whenever they carry out their regular assessments. They’re content with progress so far, and will continue to review the Government’s work at regular intervals leading up to the Games.
Delivering the safety and security of the Games will be one of the biggest security challenges the UK has ever faced and some areas, particularly London, will need more police officers than usual. This may mean that police from around the country will need to be deployed to London and to other locations hosting Olympic and Paralympic venues.
The Government and the police service are developing plans for this which will ensure that regular high levels of policing will continue to be carried out throughout the country during the summer of 2012.
Key numbers relating to the 2012 Games
