Examination of Witnesses (Questions 300-306)
MR TIM
O'TOOLE, MR
HUGH SUMNER,
MR KEITH
MILLS AND
MR WILBEN
SHORT
26 OCTOBER 2005
Q300 Mr Leech: Just a follow-on. Do you
have any rough figures of how many people you do expect to go
to the Olympic Village by bike? What sort of provision is going
to be made for security of bikes?
Mr Sumner: Off the top of my head
I cannot recall the precise numbers, but both the northern and
southern transport malls for spectators have been designed with
secure cycle facilities to be built as part of the Games. However,
cycling also extends into the construction period as well so we
will be working with the LDA to see if we can encourage cycling
for those people who are constructing the venues, not just during
the Games themselves for spectators.
Q301 Chairman: I think what concerns
us also is security. How are you going to reassure the public
they are going to be safe?
Mr Mills: Madam Chairman, we have
some extremely robust security plans in place. Having said that,
we live in an ever-changing world in security terms. I think we
are fortunate in London to have probably the best security services
in the world and they impressed the IOC enormously when they came
to London in February. I do not think anybody would expect anything
other than enormous attention to detail and planning at a level
for an event like the Games that we probably have not seen before.
Q302 Chairman: It is the co-ordination,
I think, that concerns us. Are you convinced that all the services
will be co-ordinated in such a way which will mean they can demonstrate
effectively what they are doing?
Mr Mills: Yes I am. I think we
have demonstrated in London historically the ability to co-ordinate
all of the security services effectively. The ultimate responsibility
for security in the Games will be the Home Secretary and under
him a series of bodies that will co-ordinate their various elements
of security. A Security Secretariat is being established with
LOCOG and the Home Office. We are very confident that security
at a London Olympic Games will be at the highest.
Q303 Graham Stringer: Just on that point,
people, quite rightly, think about security and terrorism when
there are major events like this going on, but there is also the
issue of low-level security. The Olympic Games are a bonanza for
pickpockets and other criminal activities. What plans are being
made to deal with the fact that not only spectators will arrive
but all the best pickpockets in Europe will probably want to come
to London in 2012?
Mr Mills: I hope not.
Q304 Graham Stringer: Well, what are
you going to do beyond hope?
Mr Mills: Okay, we have a significant
security budget for in-venue security so within the Olympic Park
and within Olympic venues our own private security services will
be available and they will supplemented obviously by the Metropolitan
Police in London and the Police Services in the other parts of
the country that are affected. In terms of detailed day-to-day
security plans, we are some way off from producing those but I
think we are confident that given the experience we have in this
country that we would be able to cope with those sorts of issues.
Q305 Graham Stringer: Would you follow
the Barcelona model where the pickpockets and other undesirables
were taken off to Las Ramblas and other parts and driven out of
Barcelona?
Mr Mills: I think that is a matter
for the police, not for LOCOG.
Q306 Chairman: As long as you keep them
south of the river, I do not mind! You heard what Mr Sloman said
about having enough time to test it properly where they discovered
they had a gap with people who did not know how to drive round
Sydney because they came from out of the area. What amount of
testing to you expect to do and how much is that buffer zone going
to represent safety?
Mr Mills: I did indeed hear Mr
Sloman, and we have worked very closely with Mr Sloman over the
last year or two and drawn on his considerable experience. One
of the things he also said this morning, which is important, is
that in the case of Sydney and certainly in the case of Athens
the start they made on many of their projects was left until too
late so the buffer zone and the ability to test systems and processes
and in the case of transport, networks and infrastructures were
left very much to the last minute. I think, as my colleagues here
have explained, many or most of the significant transport upgrades
are already in the process of being made. I think we are very
confident that we have built in sufficient buffer time to our
transport plans to ensure that during Games time they stand up
to the pressures that the Games will bring.
Chairman: Gentlemen, we are very grateful
to you. I have enjoyed it. It has been very interesting. I hope
you will understand if I say I hope you do not have to come back
here and explain to me what you did wrong. Thank you very much
indeed.
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