High alert before London Olympics: a warship on the Thames, arrests - The Globe and Mail The Globe and Mail Thursday, Jul. 05, 2012 1:10PM EDT Last updated Print License article A massive police and military operation is on standby just three weeks before the London Olympics with fighter jets, combat helicopters, thousands of police and the Royal Navy’s largest warship stationed on the Thames in the capital during the games. That heightened security – and nervousness around a high-profile attack in Britain – has resulted in three separate security incidents in the span of 24 hours as authorities leave nothing to chance. Equestrian athletes, left to right, Ian Millar, from Perth, Ont., Tiffany Foster, from Schomberg, Ont., Eric Lamaze, from Schomberg, Ont., Jill Henselwood, from Oxford Mills, Ont., and Yann Candele, from Caledon, Ont., were named to the Canadian Olympic equestrian team in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, July 5, 2012. The Canadian Press London 2012 Canada's Tara Whitten competes during the 2009 Elite Track Pan American Championship cycling event in Mexico City.

Associated Press London 2012 Video: Homeless sing at London's Royal Opera House On Friday, police announced the arrests of seven men on suspicion of terrorism offences after weapons were found in their vehicle when it was pulled over in a routine stop in northern England. In early morning raids on residences in London on Thursday, anti-terrorism police arrested six people suspected of being involved in a plot against British targets. Security officials said the plot was not linked to the Olympics. In the second incident, which proved to be a false alarm, dramatic TV scenes showed armed police investigating bus passengers one-by-one in an early morning incident that blocked traffic in both directions on a major British highway 187 kilometres north of London. British ministry of defence personnel provided police support. The incident was later described as not being terror-related. The current security budget estimate of $870-million has already been doubled and is expected to climb significantly by the time the Olympics and Paralympics are finished. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics security ballooned to $900-million. The total Olympics budget is set at $14.7-billion – nearly four times the 2005 estimate given by organizers when London won the 2012 bid.

Concern over a terror attack tops the list of threats, but authorities are also concerned about organized crime and protests similar to those that took place over three days last August in London and other major cities. To stop a terror attack, a significant military operation is in place. Fighter jets and helicopters will protect the airspace over the London Olympics, surface-to-air-missiles will be stationed on top of residential buildings, and 12,500 police will be on the ground during the games with 23,000 part-time security guards at sporting venues. A security exercise in May saw the Royal Navy's largest warship HMS Ocean , which is a landing platform for six helicopters, moored on the Thames River at Greenwich. It will be overseeing marine security during the games. This video filmed in May shows the warship, which resembles an aircraft carrier, squeezing through the central gate of the Thames Barrier, a flood barrier meant to protect London from flooding, on its way to take part in security preparations. Thirty-two kilometres west of the Olympic Stadium in east London, Royal Air Force Typhoon jets will be on stand by at RAF Northolt in the event of a 9/11-type air threat to London.

Puma combat helicopters will be stationed at an army facility six kilometers to the east of stadium and other Olympics venues. Most controversially, a decision to station surface-to-air-missile batteries on the rooftops of apartment blocks in east London will go ahead. Residents have criticized the decision over a lack of consultation and anxiety over the prospect of missiles being placed on ‘top of their heads.’ A high court challenge by residents may yet quash the missile plan. Missiles would be used if an air threat was not intercepted by one of the fighter jets patrolling the skies. In May, a British tabloid reported that it had smuggled a fake bomb past security checkpoints in to an area where the key sporting facilities have been built. The driver of a mechanical digger carried the harmless device in to main Olympics area. “If I had terrorist connections I could be bringing in explosives, chemicals – anything at all,” he told the British tabloid. Olympics organizers explained that the main area and the athletes village would be “searched and sealed” before being locked down ahead of the July 27 opening ceremony. Most police will not be armed and street-level security will be police-led, with armed police or soldiers only being deployed in the event of an incident.

Olympic security: army reinforcements called in to fill G4S shortfall | Sport | The Guardian Olympic Games 2012 Olympic security: army reinforcements called in to fill G4S shortfall Exclusive: Military to provide up to 3,500 extra troops amid fears G4S may be unable to supply 10,000 guards it promised to deliver An army training exercise in Blackheath: Whitehall's patience with G4S ran out last weekend and it turned to the MoD to fill the gap. Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP Thursday 12 July 2012 03.15 EDT First published on Thursday 12 July 2012 03.15 EDT Close This article is 4 years old The military has been asked to provide up to 3,500 extra troops to guard the London Olympics, amid concerns that private security firm G4S will be unable to deliver the number of staff it promised. Ministers have been forced into the last-ditch move only a fortnight before the Games because they are concerned that G4S cannot guarantee it will be able to supply the 13,700 guards it was contracted to deliver.

One Whitehall insider accused the Home Office of "sticking its head in the sand" over the need to deploy extra military personnel. "This has been an accident waiting to happen. The Home Office has waited to make a decision on this because G4S has been saying it is all in hand. But we've run out of time." The home secretary, Theresa May, has been pressing G4S to provide assurances over its commitments, but patience in Whitehall ran out last weekend and talks began over whether the Ministry of Defence could fill the gap. "The army will provide an insurance policy," said a Whitehall source. The armed forces are already providing up to 13,500 personnel for the Games – split between the venues and back-up for police. Under the contingency plans, this could reach 16,500 – 7,000 more than are being deployed in Afghanistan. The MoD has been seeking guarantees that any soldiers drafted in at the last moment will be properly compensated for cancelled leave. A defence source said that the army units that may be required had been identified and put at a state of shortened readiness.

They will be deployed incrementally, as needed, and logistical and training hubs were already being set up to co-ordinate them. "This is not about the security of the Olympics being in peril," said the source. "Nobody would let that happen. The military has been asked to help, so of course the military will help. I think the general public will be relieved to see members of the British armed forces at the venues providing security. Quite a lot needs to be done, this is a big issue for us, but we can do it." The issue of venue security has been the most contentious for organisers and the government in the runup to the Olympics, after the London organising committee (Locog) admitted in December it had wildly underestimated the number of staff required to deliver security at 34 Olympic venues in London and around the country. The figure required more than doubled from 10,000 to 23,700 and the budget went up from £282m to £553m. All security costs for the Games are met from the £9.3bn government funding package provided from public funds, as opposed to Locog's £2bn operating budget.

The Home Office permanent secretary, Dame Helen Ghosh, has admitted that Locog's original "best estimate" of 10,000 security staff within venues had been a "finger in the air" exercise. Another source on the London 2012 board has previously described the security operation as a "blind spot" in Locog's planning for the Games. It will spark fresh questions over the extent to which the Games will appear overly reliant on the armed forces – last week it was confirmed that surface-to-air missiles would be located at six sites around the capital, despite protests from residents and some MPs. The navy's biggest warship, HMS Ocean, will be stationed in the Thames and four Typhoon fighter jets will be on standby at RAF Northolt in Middlesex. Armed Puma helicopters will also be on standby. The London 2012 chairman, Lord Coe, has insisted that London will not feel like a "siege city" during the Games and Chris Allison, the Metropolitan police assistant commissioner and national Olympic security co-ordinator, has insisted it will be a "blue Games".

Organisers have insisted that 8.8 million ticketholders will be reassured rather than panicked by the sight of military personnel, citing the example of Wimbledon. But such large numbers of military personnel have never been mobilised in the UK during peacetime. Organisers believe G4S needs at least 19,000 security guards to fulfil its £284m contract, which requires 10,400 licenced guards and 3,300 students. The extra guards are needed as a buffer when staff fail to turn up or fail security screening. G4S were also due to manage the 7,500 military personnel and 2,500 volunteers. The 3,500 extra troops may not all be required but the government is keen to have them in place in case G4S is unable to deliver. The government is believed to have agreed to a "just in time" approach to training the guards in a bid to avoid costs spiralling further. In addition to £553m security budget, a further £600m has been set aside for the police operation, although the Home Office has said it should be able to deliver for £475m.

G4S said it had 4,000 staff in venues and more than 20,000 in training. A spokesman for G4S said that issues over "scheduling and deployment" were being dealt with. "Our programme to train and deploy our security workforce for the 2012 Games is continuing and has stepped up in the past few weeks," said the spokesman.

"Issues we have faced over scheduling and deployment are being worked out and we are continuing to work hard to get a robust workforce in place for the start of the Games." Speaking in the House of Commons, the home secretary, Theresa May, claims that the need for extra military personnel 'only crystallised 24 hours ago' Published: 12 Jul 2012 • Ministers act as G4S admits 'issues' with supplying numbers • Adam Gemili wins 100m final in 10.05sec • Let them eat chips, says Locog - but McDonald's disagrees Published: 12 Jul 2012 Britain's military is to provide up to 3,500 extra troops for security duty at the Olympic Games Published: 12 Jul 2012 Number of guards needed was woeful underestimate and G4S admits it is struggling to train personnel in time Published: 11 Jul 2012 London 2012 | Security - SkyscraperCity London 2012 | Security Speakers' Corner For London related discussion Page 1 of 6 POLICE have revealed an extensive security package intended to ensure safety at the London Olympics.

The Metropolitan Police's head of special operations, announced ï¿½600m worth of measures. He said the police are planning to co-ordinate London's half a million existing CCTV cameras, and scan the crowds using state-of-the-art identity recognition techniques. Further monitoring will be carried out by 12 helicopters. Also planned are an automatic vehicle number-plate recognition system and biometric checks for the 40,000 workers who will be employed in constructing the Olympic Park. The measures will be in place for a 60-day period around the games. Tickets will be linked to the identity of the buyer, and that the holder will be remotely tracked from their home to the venue. The games are considered a target for potential terrorists. Organisers are expecting nine million people to watch the games at 33 venues across London. In addition, London can expect 15,000 athletes and 20,000 media workers. The cost of security for the London 2012 Olympics will not go over ï¿½600million, according to the Government.

Although full security plans will be kept secret, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith revealed the policing costs would not be exceeded and added the Government was unlikely to tap into a ï¿½238m contingency fund. She said: "This ï¿½600m, together with a contingency of ï¿½238m on which there are currently no plans to draw, and the security budget of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are parts of the overall Olympic public sector funding package of ï¿½9.325bn." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cyber 'threat' to London Olympics 27th April 2009 The Olympic Games in London could suffer a severe "cyber attack" unless urgent action is taken, according to former home secretary David Blunkett. He said terrorists could hack into computer and communications systems causing a "complete meltdown". The Labour MP said such an attack would be "devastating" but systems existed to block it. He is urging a co-ordinated approach between government, security experts and business to ensure Britain is safe.

During his opening address to the Infosec annual conference at London's Olympia on Tuesday, Mr Blunkett will say that there is a "woeful level of awareness" of the threat of cyber attack, organised crime and online fraud. 'Negligent and complacent' Last edited by jerseyboi; April 27th, 2009 at 11:20 AM. Posts: 10,481 Likes (Received): 11 "Tickets will be linked to the identity of the buyer, and that the holder will be remotely tracked from their home to the venue." __________________ My Pictures: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater.

You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Quote: Originally Posted by NothingBetterToDo "Tickets will be linked to the identity of the buyer, and that the holder will be remotely tracked from their home to the venue." Did he actually say that, is the press just talking crap as usual. The only way to do someting like that would be to put a tracking device in to the ticket, and then because this would be considered as intrusive and directed servalence, you would need to get a RIPA authority for each ticket sold, so basically it's impossible. __________________ Indeed, even with Jackboot Jackie in charge i found that statement hard to believe. __________________ My Pictures: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Likes (Received): 517 London 2012 Security. Biometric hand and eye scanners have been installed on the Olympic Park entrances to enhance the safety and security of construction workers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, plans are being drawn up for an SAS unit to be stationed in London throughout the 2012 Olympics.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We do not comment on intelligence or operational matters, or specific threats. The police regularly train and exercise for a variety of scenarios with a variety of partners. "The police have established procedures in place to deal with a terrorist incident which are constantly updated. It is right that we learn the lessons from previous incidents and that these inform and strengthen such procedures. "We know we face a real and serious threat from terrorism. The overall threat level, set by JTAC (Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre), remains at severe which means that an attack is highly likely. This has not changed." More on This Story Home secretary Speech in parliament today. The home secretary said the Olympic Police budget is ring fenced and want be cut. Likes (Received): 517 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS: BRITAIN SNUB TO US ON SECURITY BRITAIN has declined a US offer to moor a giant aircraft carrier in the Thames Estuary during the 2012 London Olympics to boost security. Number 10 turned down the plan amid fears it would make the UK look “weak” as the world spotlight focused on the games.

According to Ministry of Defence sources, the White House offered to station a US carrier here to help defend the skies over London and monitor terrorist communication networks. The Americans wanted to anchor a 40,000-ton Wasp class vessel, which can carry 40 Sea Knight helicopters and up to 20 Harrier II attack aircraft. It also has missiles capable of shooting down airliners in case of a 9/11 copycat attack. An MoD spokesman said plans were still being drawn up for a British naval vessel to offer “aerial defence” off the Thames during the Games, possibly a Type 45 class destroyer. The Olympics were a terrorist target in 1972 when 11 Israeli athletes were massacred at the Munich Games. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UK may deploy warship for Games London - Britain could deploy a Royal Navy destroyer armed with anti-aircraft missiles to provide extra security for the 2012 London Olympics, the ministry of defence said on Monday. The ministry said the country would use its "own capabilities" following a newspaper report that the United States had offered to send a warship to be stationed off the British coast during the Games.

"We will have our own capabilities in place to provide the necessary protection for the Olympic Games and this could include a Type 45 Destroyer if it is deemed appropriate," a ministry spokesperson said. Britain currently has two Type 45 destroyers. Built with a "stealth" design, they are equipped with the Sea Viper air defence missile system which includes radars and short- and long-range missiles. They can also house a force of up to 60 soldiers or Royal Marines. The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that the US offered to deploy a 40 000-tonne Wasp class amphibious assault ship carrying helicopters and Harrier jets in the estuary of the River Thames during the games. The newspaper said Downing Street rejected the suggestion because it would make Britain look "weak". A US source said the information was inaccurate. British media reports have said the security budget for the games is likely to be ï¿½1.5bn, three times the original estimate. Suicide bombers targeted three London underground trains and a bus on July 7 2005, killing 52 people, the day after the city was named as the host for the 2012 Olympics.

Will the Type 45 Destroyer have a colourful PVC wrap? Or will it just be left "functional" grey? This video was posted by the UK Home Office's YouTube channel Likes (Received): 517 ï¿½280m released to London 2012 for security(UKPA) Another ï¿½280 million is being released to London 2012 to help bolster security for venues at the Games, Security Minister Baroness Neville-Jones announced. The Olympic safety and security budget, set in 2007, remains at ï¿½600 million but could be shaved to ï¿½475 million through continuing savings. The ï¿½280 million from the Home Office is to cover 2012 venues across Britain, including sports arenas that may need additional security for the Games. It is to cover areas of security the public can see, such as fencing, perimeter searches and bag screening. The coming year will see venues handed over to London 2012 as the organisers press ahead with test events and plans to stage the Games.

Releasing the extra money and the potential future savings is not expected to compromise plans or put the public at risk, a Home Office spokesman said. The ï¿½9.3 billion Olympic project still remains in budget. Responsibility for venue security is split between London 2012 and the Government. The Olympic security figures were released to Parliament as part of the four-year police funding settlement. This takes in Government cuts outlined in the spending review in October. Baroness Neville-Jones' statement to the Lords states that safety and security for the 2012 Games is well advanced and on schedule. Beyond the ï¿½134 million which will have been spent by the Home Office by the end of the current financial year, the Home Office will be providing ï¿½107 million in 2011/12 and ï¿½192 million in 2012/13. Meanwhile, work has begun on transforming a key part of the Lower Lea Valley in time for the London 2012 Games, with diggers having moved on to the Three Mills Green in east London for the ï¿½635,000 project.

MI5 recruit spies from London's Olympic site by Laurie Hanna, Daily Mirror MI5 have recruited dozens of agents from the London Olympic site in a bid to foil terrorists. Intelligence officers have spooks working as building contractors and guards to monitor the site and their colleagues ahead of the 2012 Games. There are concerns the Games could be targeted for a high-profile al-Qaeda attack, with approximately 70% of the Games to be staged in London. Background checks are also being run on all companies who will provide food, drink and security to venues across the country – including Premier League stadiums such as Old Trafford and St James’s Park. An insider said: “Intelligence officers will be keeping an eye on things. Staff who are working on the Olympic site are perfect for the job, and they will need to be alert at all times.” All companies connected to the Games, and their security officers, have been briefed by counter-terrorism cops and MI5 in preparation. The Spooks-style recruitment has led to staff reporting to MI5’s own *dedicated unit of Olympics intelligence. There are 500 security personnel on duty at any one time at the site in Stratford, East London.

The Games are expected to attract two million extra visitors to London, with more than 15,000 athletes taking part, including Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu who won gold in the women’s 400m in 2008. Next year, a terrorist attack and other *emergencies will be simulated at the site. Security minister Baroness Neville-Jones said this was to test procedures “in a range of scenes including counter-terrorism and crisis man-agement”. London 2012 Olympics to have airport style security London 2012 Olympics to have airport style security Sports fans attending the London 2012 Olympics can expect airport-style security screening at venues, the policeman in charge of safety at the Games said on Thursday. Met Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, Olympic security coordinator, said there were no plans to draw on the military, beyond certain niche demands, despite severe spending cuts across the nation's police forces. Chief constables have seen their budgets cut by about 20% as the coalition government attempts to rein in a record budget deficit approaching 11% of national output.

Allison said forces, which could be called upon to provide special services for the Olympics, such as firearms officers, mounted police, protection and search officers, have been asked to postpone any potential cuts in these areas until after the Games. Security inside Olympic venues will be the responsibility of LOCOG, the body in charge of staging the Games, who will work alongside the police. Private security firms will use X-ray machines and carry out searches "much like you would see at an airport", he said. "As you get to the venues clearly you will have to go through a search and secure regime," Allison told reporters. "It will look like you would expect. Sadly, as a society we've been having to do deal with the impact of terrorism for many years," he said. Britain has been a terrorist target for many years, and its role in Iraq and Afghanistan, as a leading US ally, has increased the threat posed by Islamic militants. In July 2005, the day after London was awarded the Games, four young British Islamists killed 52 commuters in suicide bomb attacks on the capital's transport network. The armed forces could provide niche capabilities, such as Royal Navy boats on waterways, but the military would not be seen on the streets.

"The military don't have the expertise of working on the streets within the UK," he told Reuters. "We work with the consent of the community. Generally, they do a very different sort of operation. We've got the capacity as a service at the moment to deliver a policing operation." Last month, policing minister Nick Herbert said he expected the Olympic security budget to fall from a previous commitment of 600 million pounds to an estimated 475 million pounds through savings, though the full amount would be available if required. Allison said they were "well under" the 600 million pounds budget, but estimates were changing on a daily basis, and the securing the Games "was not going to be easy". Likes (Received): 517 London 2012 Olympics: waves of criminality prompt Olympic security review London Olympic officials are preparing to review security arrangements for next year's Olympic Games in the wake of extensive rioting, violence, cynical looting and destruction across London, including areas adjacent to the Olympic Park in East London.

Around 200 senior Olympic officials are here in London for three days of meetings and have been shocked and appalled at the devastating scenes and have asked for immediate reassurances about security at the London 2012 Olympics. As of Tuesday morning the test event for beach volleyball at the Horse Guards Parade was set to go ahead as normal. This comes as some of Britain's top athletes have hit out angrily that the reputation of London and the fine preparations of the Games were being impacted. Hurdler Andy Turner tweeted "nothing more than bravado, stupid little pricks pretending to be 'ard. Anyone touches my car and your legs will no longer work." Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe said she was horrified that at a time when London was inviting the world to come to the Games, the rest of London was trying to leave. The Olympics will be into day four of competition this time next year. The chef de missions ï¿½ or chief managers ï¿½ of the 204 National Olympic Committee teams that will take part at the Games have arrived in London for meetings that start today with lists of concerns ranging from transport times, the food and accommodation at the athletes village, but those concerns have been totally submersed by the security issues.

Last night many were gathered together at the Hilton Hotel watching the rolling coverage of riots in Lewisham and Hackney, large fires in Croydon and shop looting in Clapham Junction. Of concern was the apparent inability of the police to stay on top of fast moving situations and the brazen attacks in broad daylight. A spokesman for the British Olympic Association, Darryl Seibel said: "We all need to learn more about the root cause of what is taking place here but we all know security is the top priority for the organising committee and the local police authorities. We are confident that all of the appropriate security measures will be in place." Officials on the London organising committee (Locog) were trying to reassure the international officials that the current attacks were not related in any way to the Olympics, but that there would be a comprehensive review of security in the wake of the violence. "A lot of detailed work has taken place regarding security plans for the Games and we will continue to review them together with the Met Police and the Home Office over the coming year," a Locog spokeswoman said. The US team will take advice from the US State department, but officials say they have confidence in the security plans for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

A statement from the US Olympic Committee says: "For every Games we take security planning extremely seriously and we work very closely with the US State Department, the organisers and the local authorities to ensure the absolute safety of our team. "We are confident in the security plans for London and will continue to work closely with Locog and other authorities as we build to the Games in 2012." Renmin Ribao, China "The Olympics will be hosted next year; the security situation in London, which has always been a first-choice site for terrorist attacks, will be even grimmer. British police now face two main problems. First, as the government cuts police funding in order to reduce the deficit, British police will carry out massive layoffs. With insufficient manpower and financial resources, they will inevitably be overwhelmed with problems in maintaining social order.

Second, after the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, the credibility of the British police has declined and there is still a very long way to go in rebuilding the credibility of the police and restoring public support, says Qu Bing, Institute of European Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations." Location: The posh part of Leeds Posts: 13,021 Because Chinese police are the ideal role models Oh dear - look at the smoke from the riots in the background of the webcam. Posts: 8,144 Likes (Received): 517 THE SAS have had a top secret base built on the London Olympics Park to combat potential terrorist attacks. The elite troops will be on site as fears increase next yearï¿½s Games will be targeted. There will also be underground bunkers housing troops on full alert 24 hours a day during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Reports claim that the elite corps will have a key role in the massive security operation at the Olympics, using boats to move in from the Thames if terrorists attack.

And it is claimed that a secret new riverside base being built in East London will house a fleet of the high-powered rigid inflatable boats, meaning units can swoop into action at high speed using the network of waterways around the Olympic site. Helicopters are also said to be part of the plans to bypass any road traffic obstacles, with choppers ready to fly in troop reinforcements if required. And in the case of the need for evacuation, the river will also prove a handy and swift exit point. A source said: ï¿½It reflects the gravity of the threat.ï¿½ Ground-to-air missiles 'may protect' London 2012 games Eleven police forces and the military are involved in the security effort for Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has told MPs that ground-to-air missiles will be deployed to protect the 2012 Olympic Games in London if deemed operationally necessary. He was asked to confirm this by the former defence secretary Liam Fox. It was Mr Hammond's first appearance at Defence Questions since taking over from Mr Fox. The comments follow reports of concern in the United States about security plans for the Games.

The Guardian claimed the US was furious about security plans and wanted to send up to 1,000 of its own people, including 500 FBI agents but the Home Office says it has "full confidence" in the plans. 'All necessary measures' Mr Hammond was asked by his predecessor to confirm whether there would be a "full range of multilayered defence and deterrents" in place for the 2012 Games including surface-to-air missiles. He replied: "I can assure him that all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of the London Olympic Games will be taken including - if the advice of the military is that it is required - appropriate ground-to-air defences." The BBC's Political Correspondent Robin Brant said Mr Fox would almost certainly have been aware of the security plans for the event - so the exchange may have been designed to show how seriously the UK's contingency planning was being taken. London 2012: Latest Olympic news, sport, features and programmes from the BBC The deployment of overseas security officers at the Olympics has become standard procedure in recent years but final responsibility for security rests with the host government.

National Olympic security co-ordinator Chris Allison said there would be a small amount of "foreign security liaison officers" in London to act as a link between their national teams and UK police. But he insisted their numbers would not be on the scale reported "The Games will be delivered by the British police service, working with Games organisers Locog," he told the BBC. "We will have support from other colleagues up and down the country but it is the British police service that will be doing it." The US was providing "great support", Mr Allison added, and their officials did not "recognise" the concerns expressed in the newspaper. The Guardian article says the London riots, the arrest of a security guard at the Olympic site and arrests before the visit of the Pope last year have raised US anxieties while the restriction of the scope of anti-terrorism stop-and-search powers was also claimed to have caused concerns. 'Safe and secure' In response, the Home Office said security planning was "on track" and funding had been protected. "The government is committed to delivering a safe and secure Games that London, the UK and the world can enjoy," a spokesman said. Philip Hammond: "All necessary measures available...

including ground-to-air defences" The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which undertakes detailed inspections of security preparations, had "full confidence" in the UK's plans, he added. Responding to claims in the article, the games organisers Locog said precise numbers of security officers are only now being finalised because the venues themselves have only just been completed. The US Embassy has declined to comment. Earlier this year Mr Allison said 12,000 officers may be needed nationally to police the event and another 10,000-15,000 security officials could also be deployed by private security firm G4S. The BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera said: "The US is understood to be taking a close interest in the plans and is intending to send over hundreds of personnel to protect its athletes." Posts: 8,144 Likes (Received): 517 The largest ship in the Royal Navy which led the attacks against Colonel Gaddafi is to be deployed in the Thames to protect the Olympics, the Standard reveals today. HMS Ocean, an amphibious assault ship capable of sending in Royal Marines in helicopters in the event of a terrorist raid, is expected to anchor off Greenwich.

Specialist units will also be able to respond to any a waterborne attack on London. Deploying 22,000-ton HMS Ocean, which can carry more than 800 marines, will be seen as a sign of how seriously Britain is taking Olympic security. HMS Ocean docked in Plymouth last week after a seven-month deployment which included launching Apache attack helicopters during the UN mission in Libya to support rebel forces. David Cameron today for the first time was chairing an Olympic "stock-take" meeting in Downing Street attended by Home Secretary Theresa May, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, as well as police and Olympics chiefs. The Prime Minister took charge as the whole of government is cranking up to focus on delivering a successful Olympics. A Downing Street source said: "The Prime Minister wants to ensure that the Government has taken every step to ensure the Games run smoothly. Activity across Government will step up as we enter 2012, but the meeting today is to ensure that all those plans are on track." Mr Hunt was due to present an update explaining that all venues in the Olympic park were completed on time and on budget and that the overall costs are not expected to exceed ï¿½9.3 billion.

Final decisions on security arrangements are yet to be made. But up to 7,000 military personnel are due to be part of the 23,000-strong force of security guards at Olympic venues. A further 5,000 to 6,000 armed forces members will be deployed in the wider security operation including on HMS Ocean and the RAF's rapid reaction force to counter the threat of an air attack. Ground-to-air missiles may be set up to protect Olympic sites. Special forces teams and elite police units will also be on alert. MI5 teams will be trailing terror suspects in London and 12,000 police officers are expected to be on duty. London's Olympic security headache - CNN.com London's Olympic security headache By Laura Smith-Spark, CNN Updated 8:28 AM ET, Thu July 26, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

JUST WATCHED Olympic security staffing shortfall 03:23 Story highlights The government is deploying 18,200 troops to make up for a shortfall in security guards One headache is safeguarding more than 100 visiting heads of state and foreign dignitaries Private security contractor G4S has failed to recruit and accredit enough security staff Fighter jets are on standby, and a helicopter carrier is moored in the Thames As tens of thousands of athletes, team officials and visitors gather in London ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday, security is paramount for the Games organizers and British authorities. And perhaps the biggest headache of all is the challenge of safeguarding the more than 100 heads of state and foreign dignitaries who will attend the opening ceremony at the Olympic Park -- Queen Elizabeth II, first lady Michelle Obama and U.S. presidential hopeful Mitt Romney among them. But should visitors and competitors be worried? Security concerns hit the headlines this month when it emerged that private security contractor G4S, which was supposed to have provided 10,400 guards for the Olympics and Paralympics, would not be able to deliver.

As a result, the government is deploying 18,200 troops -- many more than planned and almost twice as many as are in Afghanistan -- in order to remedy the shortfall. About 1,200 of those were called up just this week after being placed on standby. Nonetheless, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the minister responsible for the Games, said Tuesday that the government "continues to have every confidence that we will deliver a safe and secure Games." JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH UK officials downplay security issues 02:40 The decision to call up the extra troops was down to ministers' determination to "leave nothing to chance," as they prepare for the largest peacetime event ever staged in Britain, he said. "G4S numbers continue to rise significantly and we have every expectation that will continue to be the case," Hunt added. With three days to go before the opening ceremony, G4S said it had around 5,800 security personnel deployed at Olympic venues, with more being trained and accredited "each day." Last week, it said it hoped to have 7,000 fully accredited by the start of the Games, still thousands fewer than it was contracted to provide.

While the recruitment failure by G4S is highly embarrassing for the company, the Games' organizers insist that their contingency planning will keep everyone safe. Visitors can certainly expect to see far more visible security measures in place than usual at Games venues and transport hubs. The Ministry of Defence is also guarding the games with two warships, Typhoon jet fighters, Puma helicopters and, perhaps most controversially, surface-to-air missiles on apartment buildings near the stadium, despite objections from residents. Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the London organizing group, LOCOG, has said the only real difference resulting from the G4S debacle will be in the "mix of security" checking on those at Olympic venues. Home Secretary Theresa May gave a similar message when she was grilled by lawmakers on the matter, saying, "There is no question of Olympic security being compromised." Critics have been less positive, with some Labour Party lawmakers concerned that security will be inadequate or that the prominent military presence will make visitors uncomfortable. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Terror arrests in London 03:15 Security officials in the United States say they are supporting the host nation's efforts during the Games. The U.S.

intelligence community has set up a 24/7 center to analyze all threat information coming in during the Olympics in London, a senior American counterterrorism official said Wednesday. Matthew Olsen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told the House Homeland Security Committee that the upcoming Games "present a potential target for terrorists and other disruptive groups." He said the United States is working closely with its British counterparts to collect, analyze and share potential threat information with the goal of making sure they can "respond quickly to prevent any possible plotting tied to the Games." Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last week that Washington has offered "whatever assistance" the UK needs "in order to ensure that proper security is provided." The chief executive of G4S, Nick Buckles, was forced to agree under questioning from lawmakers that the security staffing fiasco is "a humiliating shambles for the country." The firm has also agreed to meet the cost of the extra troop deployment, which could run to $77 million. The Home Office said that G4S was suffering from a software problem, which means the contractor cannot guarantee who will turn up where and whether guards have the right training.

The guards employed by G4S will be responsible chiefly for such tasks as providing venue perimeter security, a spokesman for the contractor said. This includes manning X-ray machines, searching people, searching vehicles and operating closed-circuit television systems, he said. People with tickets for Olympic events have been sent e-mails giving details of the security requirements for each venue. These include airport-style limits on the size of bags that can be carried and the quantity of liquids that can be taken in. One such e-mail reads, "Be prepared for security checks when you arrive: this will be like taking an international flight at an airport. It will be busy and you will have to queue, so get there early." The 18,200 British military personnel deployed for the Games are to help out with the security checks and stewarding at venues, as well as specialist tasks such as bomb disposal and sniffer dog searches. The Royal Navy's largest ship, the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, is moored in the Thames off Greenwich, where it will be a base for helicopter operations and house troops providing security at the Greenwich Park Olympic venue. Additional airspace restrictions are also in force around London and the southeast. Police in London and elsewhere also will play a big role in ensuring security.

Well before the G4S debacle hit the headlines, London's Metropolitan Police Service, known as the Met, was planning what it says is its biggest-ever peacetime operation. The operation will "run for 66 days and cover over 1,000 venues, including those hosting Olympic and Paralympic sports, cultural events and 2012-themed celebrations taking place across the capital," the Met website says. On the busiest days, up to 9,500 police officers will be used, including some from forces outside London, for Games-related operations, it says. Officers at Olympic venues will focus on preventing crime and keeping people and their property safe, while G4S is responsible for the security operation, it says. Away from the venues, the Met will also have to provide the usual policing for the city and its visitors. The Games come just over a year after parts of London were rocked by rioting that led to police being brought in from elsewhere in England to help restore control. The threat of a potential terrorist strike has also been in the news in recent days after a number of arrests, although police said the operations were not linked to the Olympic Games.

The terror threat level on the UK Home Office website remains unchanged at "substantial," which is the third highest of five levels. The next level up is "severe," which means an attack is "highly likely," and the highest is "critical," meaning an attack is "expected imminently." Government officials from Washington to London insist that there are no known specific or credible terror threats tied to the Olympics. Travel to and around the United Kingdom will nevertheless be a focus of security efforts. Visitors arriving at London's Heathrow Airport can expect to see every desk at passport control manned during the Olympic Games, the home secretary has said. Immigration desks have extra staffers, Heathrow said Monday, amid fears of long lines to get into the country as security checks are carried out. Retired border officials and retired police officers are among those being brought in to supplement immigration staff, the Home Office said. A planned strike by some border staff has been called off, easing fears of long lines at passport control. U.S. officials may also be lending a hand at Heathrow. The UK Department for Transport said a small number of staff from the U.S.

Transportation Security Administration would be based at certain British airports "to act as an on-site liaison for the TSA." The TSA staffers will not, however, be conducting security screening or inspections, the Department for Transport said. Meanwhile, London's public transport authorities have been warning commuters for weeks to avoid travel hotspots around the time of the Games -- but have not stressed any additional security risk. The city's transport network is not immune to terror threats, as the attacks of July 2005 showed. But visitors can seek reassurance in the fact that Britain's police and intelligence officials have been successful since then in foiling attacks on the capital. In the 2005 incident, three bombs were detonated on underground trains and one on a bus in the city. The blasts killed 52 people and wounded more than 770. London Mayor Boris Johnson told CNN's Becky Anderson that while the city's authorities are not complacent, he is confident in their ability to keep visitors safe.

"We do everything in our power to maximize security at the venues, and that's working well now -- the army, the military as well as G4S are providing very safe conditions on the site, plus there is a huge amount of work that nobody has seen involving the intelligence service," he said "That's something about an event like this -- you listen out for what may or may not be happening on the Internet, you try as hard as you possibly can to monitor the potential suspects." Johnson said it is impossible to guard against all "unknown unknowns," and that's why strong security is needed at venues. "At no stage can you guarantee that someone won't do something moronic, stupid, violent and tragic; not just in London, but the whole of the UK is a potential target in this period," he said. But at the same time, he said, "the intelligence is as reassuring as it could be under the circumstances.

The threat level, as far as we are aware, has slightly come down in the last 12 months, but you can never be certain." UK faces security questions ahead of London Olympics - CNN.com UK faces security questions ahead of London Olympics By Laura Smith-Spark, CNN Updated 3:16 PM ET, Tue July 17, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. JUST WATCHED UK officials downplay security issues 02:40 Story highlights U.S. State Department has full faith and confidence in Britain's security measures Security contractor G4S has failed to train and recruit enough security staff Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt says it will be "a very safe and secure Olympics" Visitors will encounter airport-style security measures at Olympic venues With just days to go before the Olympic Games open in London, questions over the provision of security guards for the event are dominating the British media. Thousands of team officials and athletes are arriving this week, and throngs of visitors are expected to follow. But should they be worried?

The security concerns were triggered last week when it emerged that private security contractor G4S, which was supposed to have provided 10,400 guards for the Olympics and Paralympics, would not be able to deliver. Its failure to recruit, train and vet enough staff in time led the government to announce last week that it was deploying an extra 3,500 troops to cover the shortfall. G4S said it has only about 4,000 guards trained and ready, although it hopes to have 7,000 fully accredited by the time the Games begin on July 27. While the recruitment failure by G4S is highly embarrassing for the company -- and led its share price to drop sharply -- the Games' organizers insist that their contingency planning will keep everyone safe. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Olympic athletes arriving in London 02:33 Visitors can certainly expect to see far more visible security measures in place than usual at Games venues and transport hubs. Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the London organizing group, LOCOG, said Tuesday that the only real difference resulting from the G4S debacle would be in who is performing the security checks. "The numbers really haven't changed.

It's really simply about the mix of security on the park," he was quoted as saying by the Press Association news agency. LOCOG is working with G4S to try to ensure that as many people as possible are accredited in time, Coe said, adding, "This is not a failure in numbers. We've got the numbers there. There's no compromise on security." Home Secretary Theresa May gave a similar message last week as she was grilled by lawmakers on the matter, saying, "There is no question of Olympic security being compromised." Critics have been less positive, with some Labour Party lawmakers concerned that security will be inadequate or that visitors will be made uncomfortable by a prominent military presence. The chief executive of G4S, Nick Buckles, was forced to agree Tuesday under questioning from lawmakers that the security staffing fiasco is "a humiliating shambles for the country." The Home Office said Monday that G4S is suffering from a software problem, which means the contractor cannot guarantee who will turn up where and whether guards have the right training. The guards employed by G4S will be responsible chiefly for such tasks as providing venue perimeter security, a spokesman for the contractor said.

This includes manning X-ray machines, searching people, searching vehicles and operating closed-circuit television systems, he said. People with tickets for Olympic events have been sent e-mails giving details of the security requirements for each venue. These include airport-style limits on the size of bags that can be carried and the quantity of liquids that can be taken in. One such e-mail reads, "Be prepared for security checks when you arrive: this will be like taking an international flight at an airport. It will be busy and you will have to queue, so get there early." The 17,000 British military personnel deployed for the Games, including the extra 3,500 troops called up at short notice, are to help out with the security checks and stewarding at venues, as well as specialist tasks such as bomb disposal and sniffer dog searches. Military jets and helicopters are also on standby around the capital, ready to respond to any threat, and new airspace restrictions came into force Saturday around London and the southeast.

The Royal Navy's largest ship, the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, is now moored in the Thames off Greenwich, where it will act as a base for helicopter operations and house 400 troops providing security at the Greenwich Park Olympic venue. Police in London and elsewhere also will play a big role in ensuring security. Well before the G4S debacle hit the headlines, London's Metropolitan Police Service, known as the Met, was planning what it says is its biggest-ever peacetime operation. The operation will "run for 66 days and cover over 1,000 venues, including those hosting Olympic and Paralympic sports, cultural events and 2012-themed celebrations taking place across the capital," the website says. On the busiest days, up to 9,500 police officers will be used, including some from forces outside London, for Games-related operations, it says. Officers at Olympic venues will focus on preventing crime and keeping people and their property safe, while G4S is responsible for the security operation, it says. Away from the venues, the Met will also have to provide the usual policing for the city and its visitors.

The Games come just over a year after parts of London were rocked by rioting that led to police being brought in from elsewhere in England to help bring the disorder under control. The threat of a potential terrorist strike has also been in the news in recent days after a number of arrests, although police said the operations were not linked to the Olympic Games. The terror threat level on the UK Home Office website remains unchanged at "substantial," which is the third highest of five levels. The next level up is "severe," which means an attack is "highly likely," and the highest is "critical," meaning an attack is "expected imminently." Government officials from Washington to London insist that there are no known specific or credible terror threats tied to the Olympics. JUST WATCHED From Tunisia uprising to London Olympics 02:32 Travel to and around the United Kingdom will nevertheless be a focus of security efforts. Visitors arriving at London's Heathrow Airport can expect to see every desk at passport control manned during the Olympic Games, the home secretary said last week. Immigration desks have extra staffers, Heathrow said Monday, amid fears of long lines to get into the country as security checks are carried out.

Retired border officials and retired police officers are among those being brought in to supplement immigration staff, the Home Office said. Officials from outside the United Kingdom may also be lending a hand in certain areas. The UK Department for Transport said a small number of staff from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration will be based at certain British airports "to act as an on-site liaison for the TSA." The TSA staffers will not, however, be conducting security screening or inspections, the Department for Transport said. U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said Tuesday that his country has full faith and confidence in Britain's ability to provide security. The United States is sending senior diplomatic security staff to Britain to act as liaisons, Ventrell said, adding that the TSA has a "handful" of agents in the country. Meanwhile, London's public transport authorities have been warning commuters for weeks to avoid travel hotspots around the time of the Games -- but have not stressed any additional security risk. The city's transport network is not immune to terror threats, as the attacks of July 2005 showed. But visitors can seek reassurance in the fact that Britain's police and intelligence officials have been successful since then in foiling attacks on the capital.

In the 2005 incident, three bombs were detonated on underground trains and one on a bus in the city. The blasts killed 52 people and wounded more than 770. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who is in charge of the Olympic preparations, said it will be "a very safe and secure Olympics." "We have had a contractor who has let us down ... but we had a contingency plan in place," he said. "It's not possible to secure every single square inch of a huge global city like London, but where there are important concentrations of Olympic activity ... then there will be a security regime before you can enter those. Obviously the actual Olympic venues will be very tightly secured." Hunt said the vigilance of the public will also be important. "So far, we have not received intelligence of any particular additional threats, but this is a city that has huge experience of dealing with security issues over very many years," he said. Huge Security Push Planned for Games | Runner's World Huge Security Push Planned for Games Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 10:56 am By Meghan G.

Loftus London has planned such an extensive security presence for the upcoming Olympic Games that the British prime minister worries it might be over the top. “I am determined that this will feel like a sporting event with a very serious security operation rather than a security operation with a really serious sporting event,” David Cameron said, according to this report in The Daily Beast. More than 13,000 British troops will be on hand for the Games, a greater presence than they currently have in Afghanistan. There are plans to install missiles atop London apartment buildings, and the country's largest warship, the HMS Ocean, will be stationed on the banks of the Thames. The nation is attempting to send a message to potential terrorists before the Games even begin. To read more about the security efforts, find the complete story here . Advertisement

Question: Which British warship was sent up the Thames to provide security cover for the 2012 Olympic Games?
Answer: HMS Ocean