Olympic policing must be properly funded says London Councils

The government must ensure that the policing of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is properly funded, says London Councils' Executive member for Crime and Public Protection Cllr Ian Clement.

Cllr Clement's call follows comments made by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair at a meeting of borough leaders this week and to a recent meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).

At both meetings Sir Ian drew attention to the number of people, including athletes and VIPs, attending the Games who would need special close protection. However, he said that it would take significant investment to train officers to provide this special protection.

The UK is one of the few countries in the world that does not have a fully armed police service. Currently only around 6,000 of the 140,000 officers in England and Wales are trained in how to use a gun.

Councillor Clement said:

"The 2012 Games will be a wonderful showcase for everything that is great about London. People from across the globe will be travelling to London to join in the celebrations.

"Among these people will obviously be those who will need to be closely guarded because of their status or as a result of tensions and events happening elsewhere in the world.

"We recognise that a vast amount of planning is going into the security operations for the Games. However, it is vital that sufficient resources are devoted to training police officers to ensure that everyone who comes to London can enjoy the spectacle of the Games in safety.

"The government must ensure that the full costs of providing security at the Olympic Games are covered through its budget for the Games. Londoners are paying £625 million though the council tax for staging the Games. They should not be left picking up the tab for policing the Games as well.

"We want people to remember the Games for the sporting achievements, community spirit and the positive legacy it leaves behind. We do not want it to be remembered for the wrong reasons." 

The meeting of borough leaders addressed by Sir Ian Blair was the London Councils Leaders' Committee. The meeting was held on Tuesday 12 June.

Sir Ian addressed the MPA's Co-ordination and Policing Committee on Thursday 7 June.

Any member of the media wanting more information should contact Stewart Henderson on 020 7934 9620 or at stewart.henderson@londoncouncils.gov.uk