Fears Raised Over London 2012 Security Plan

Major question marks have been raised over the security plan for the London 2012
Olympics after a senior police official slammed the management process as ‘not
fit for purpose’.

Richard Bryan, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said
decision-making by the Olympic Board is ‘slow and convoluted’ and asked for
police to have a ‘primary voice’ on the board.

Bryan, who is director of operations in the Met’s Olympic Security
Directorate. proposed that the Met commissioner needs to sit alongside the Home
Secretary at the top of the decision-making network to ensure security is a key
priority.

Bryan’s statement was made at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo)
annual conference in Manchester where it was also revealed that officials are
considering drawing up a new Act of Parliament to govern Olympics security.

The Met has already gathered a huge amount of detail on the areas surrounding
the London Olympic venues, including aerial photographs and other geographical
data so that police cordons and evacuation routes can be drawn up in advance.

A security programme is due to be agreed by September so that detailed
exercises and other preparation can take place.