SECTOR FOCUS On guard

The UK security industry will face one of its toughest-ever challenges at London 2012 – but its world-class credentials suggest that it will pass the test. Lorraine Shah reports

Just over 10 months from now, the media will be full of the sporting heroics of athletes competing at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with column inches and hours of air time dedicated to medal-winning performances or personal bests. There will also be a myriad of unsung heroes – notably the thousands of people working behind the scenes to make the event a success. Among them are the security consultants and companies whose products and services will aim to ensure that the Games are secure and incident-free – something that seems even more imperative in the light of the August riots.

The London 2012 Olympics will be supported by a highly comprehensive security operation. More than 12,000 athletes, 10 million spectators

and thousands of Games workers and media representatives will have to travel to and from events, and be safely accommodated at venues located throughout the UK for the event’s duration. David Evans, project director – 2012 at the British Security Industry Association, says: “The Games are one of the world’s premier events and, as such, attract worldwide attention and publicity. “The security departments of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), the Olympic Delivery Authority, the Metropolitan Police Force and many other agencies are working together to deliver one single co-ordinated security and safety plan for the UK during the Games, which will be the country’s largest-ever single policing and security event.”

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