First stage of London 2012 security co-ordination passes off successfully

LONDON 2012 Olympics police chief Chris Allison insists security for the Games is heading in the right direction after the first major co-ordination stage.

ON THE BEAT: The London 2012 Olympics will prompt the biggest peacetime policing operation in history

More than 200 senior representatives from the police and other emergency services, government departments and Olympic partners last week completed a major national exercise to test Olympic security preparedness.

Exercise ‘Citius Torch' (named after the Olympic motto - Citius, Altius, Fortius - faster, higher, stronger) presented a series of developing scenarios - from the combined effects of a heat wave and traffic problems through to a terrorist attack.

Opened by London 2012 chairman Lordan Sebastian Coe, the two-day exercise, held in central London, Exercise ‘Citius Torch' sought to test the new national coordination and communication systems required for 2012 in what will require the biggest peacetime policing operation in history.

This included understanding the command chain, examining the required links between the new National Olympic Coordination Centre (NOCC) for safety and security, government, Locog and other key elements such as transport and intelligence.

Assistant Commissioner Allison, Olympics lead for the Metropolitan Police and who will become the National Olympic Security Coordinator, said: "First and foremost, the London 2012 Games will be a fantastic sporting event enjoyed by athletes and spectators alike.

"But it does pose a challenge to the Police Service and our partners; one which we are committed to getting right first time.

 "Two years out, Exercise Citius Torch was our first major opportunity to test the roles and responsibilities of the various partners and to test how we will work together.

"It has proved that our planning is going in the right direction but, as in all exercises, also helped highlight areas for refinement. Our focus is to keep people safe and secure, to be ready for any scenario and to ensure that the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012 are a great sporting celebration."

The exercise benefited from contributions of visiting members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, including Assistant Commissioner Bud Mercer, who led the successful security operation for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games earlier this year.

The Olympic Torch Relay will travel the entire country requiring a security operation throughout its journey ahead of the opening ceremony and main events, for which more than ten million tickets will be available for venues across the UK.

Eleven individual police forces will host an Olympic venue or village and every police force will be required to contribute resources through mutual aid arrangements.