Hundreds of police deployed for Olympics duty
Almost 200 officers from Devon and Cornwall Police will be on Olympic security detail in Dorset and London on a single day, new figures show.
All forces have been asked to provide "mutual aid" by dispatching officers to help police the games which start in London in July.
The bulk of Devon and Cornwall's officers involved will be going to Weymouth, in Dorset, which is hosting the Olympic sailing events, although some specialist officers are being deployed to London.
Figures released by the Association of Chief Police Officers showed the commitments made by every police force in the country. Devon and Cornwall are to deploy 406 officers over 69 days, meaning that at its peak, the force will have 192 officers on Olympic duty outside the two counties. There are an estimated 3,000 officers in Devon and Cornwall.
Holiday Home FOR SALE in Brixham, South Devon £2500 OFF any Regal...
View detailsHoliday Home FOR SALE IN BRIXHAM WITH SEA VIEWS over looking St. Mary's Bay beach. Come and take a look today. ONE WEEK ONLY. Facilities on site. Pools, Ents, Club, Shop. Quiet park with stunning area
Terms: Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or with a P/X on park. Come and take a look today and own your own part of South Devon. For allot less than you can imagine!! Letting permitted
Contact: 01803 220485
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
The scale of the operation has raised concerns, particularly with crime rates in the two counties rising while officer number are falling because of budget cuts, and because it falls at the peak of the tourist season.
But Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton said the deployments would not impact on "day-to-day policing".
"The Olympic torch relay has shown we can deploy significant numbers of officers on Olympic events without impacting on normal, day-to-day policing," he said.
"We have had more officers involved in the torch relay than the predicted busiest day when we are supporting the Olympic events.
"We have ensured that we will maintain our force capability at all times Devon and Cornwall and look forward to celebrating the Olympics as we have enjoyed hosting the first days of the torch relay."
The Police Federation in Devon and Cornwall, which represents constables, sergeants and inspectors, has already voiced concerns about the impact of the Olympics.
Branch chairman Nigel Rabbitts said: "My colleagues do not feel reassured at the moment. We are going to have to wait and see what the impact is. It couldn't be at a worse time for us because it is our busiest time of year."
ACPO said the number of officers deployed from each force was proportionate "ensuring that each force is providing aid based upon an assessment of the force total size, its specific capabilities and with consideration to local events".
It said in a statement: "While daily deployments will fluctuate, each force will provide a proportionately fair contribution."
They said the mutual aid was being paid for by the Home Office budget for Olympic security, adding that annual leave had been restricted for police officers left in the region.
Comments
by shagrats
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 11:00AM
“Kerching ... Overtime pay !”
by Sicksid
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 10:47AM
“it will affect day to day policing. Police officers will accumulate lots of Annual leave that they will have to take elsewhere in the year. Only 7% of officers are allowed leave whilst the olympics are on.
So later in the year when more officers want leave, overtime will have to be paid to backfill the empty posts.
That is one way that it will affect day to day policing.”
by Sicksid
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 10:44AM
“The olympics is about making millions for its organisers. Kudos for politicians.
The day to day funding is paid for by council tax payers. The police officers from Devon will be paid for by Devon residents, Manchester Police by Manchester residents.
The committee will spend as little money as possible, that is why offials at the games are 95% volunteers.
The only money made locally will be chaff compared to the millions that will be taken out of the country.
Local businesses will make a little bit i.e selling food & drink etc.
Why do you think that countries have to bid to hold the games??????
It is because the organisers want the country that will pay the most either openly or through backhanders.”
by Gwynnhadu
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 9:25PM
“Well, all this runds counter to what I read in the enclosures with my Council Tax bill! With the cutbacks biting hard and worse to come, should not the Olympic Authorities pay for their own security? They are making enough from it after all. I really wonder what the supposed benefits of this is to us here in Cornwall.”
by Mustafachat
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 8:46PM
“Beats huddeling around a speed camera I guess”
by mcspredder
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 8:27PM
“"But Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton said the deployments would not impact on "day-to-day policing"."
This is a grand,if expensive, opportunity to assess how Devon & Cornwall (residents, not police) are likely to be affected by the coming cuts in police numbers.”
by pogle63
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 7:00PM
“Nice to see my Council Tax being used to provide security to Londoners and People in Dorset - really great too for the Herald to let all the Criminal lowlifes of exactly when its best to go on a crime spree.
Just gets better everyday.”
by crazypenguin
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 5:09PM
“wiscot just because you dont aggree with him doesnt make his point `not sensible` its very valid, why should we pay for an event that has limited if any plus points for us? why should we send police officers to london when we dont even have enough to deal with crime down here as it is due to budget cuts etc.
There is not one olympic event being held in devon and cornwall so why then are our tax contributions and our police force being used for the olympics?”
by wiscot
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 4:56PM
“Sinjis_Things - where do you suggest that the 2012 Olympics should take place? Were you setting your heart on Totnes or even Blagdon?
Start thinking outside the box and contribute some sensible discussion to these columns instead of your consistently negative remarks.”
by Sinjis_Things
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 4:10PM
“As it is the London Olympics why is the whole country paying for it and no doubt any financial profit gained will end up in London? Or is it that organisers are so narrow minded that they think that anywhere outside London doesn't exist.”