G4S are still partners in the security operation for the Olympics and Paralympics, the senior Metropolitan Police man co-ordinating Games security, Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, has said. Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 news programme Today on July 17, he said the plans and the mix of civilian, police and military security for the London Olympics remained the same. He mentioned the ‘island’ concept of secured Games sites and layers of security around. He said: “We have one goal, we have one shot at this.”
As for the shortfall of officers from Games contract guarding firm G4S he said: “The military have stepped up, the police are stepping up and putting police officers into venues where it is necessary. This is about us all coming together to make sure the Games pass off safely and securely.”
He said: “The reality is in any major event it [security] is a partnership.” Pressed to say who is in charge, he answered that a police bronze commander in each venue would take command of any incident; otherwise, the management and running of venues is by the safety officers and venue managers. “It is a partnership, it is a group of people all working together. In the event of a major incident, the police step in; clearly that is their role.”
Allison, National Olympic Security Coordinator, was a speaker at the Association of Security Consultants annual conference, Consec, in November 2011.
