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A senior Army commander has warned MPs of "bureaucratic rivalries" that are hampering security planning for the 2012 Olympics. The armed forces need clarity "as soon as possible" on their security role Commander-in-Chief Land Forces Gen Sir David Richards said. Meaning the army may need new units, re-training and explosive specialists to be properly prepared for the games The man who will soon be the head of the army said: "I would like to get clarity on what might be required from the Armed Forces as soon as possible. "If we do have to re-train, create new units, IED (improvised explosive device) specialists, all that sort of thing, the sooner we get clarity the better." The Ministry of Defence said that clarity would be forth coming later this year.
2012 'keeping him awake at night'
Asked by the Commons Defence Committee chairman James Arbuthot about what kept him awake at night in relation to UK security, Gen Sir David replied: "I suppose at the back of my mind is 2012. Adding: "The government ministries are all alert to the necessary work and are getting on with it." Gen Sir David also spoke of "re-balancing" the forces due to the high risk of a terrorist attack.
Former security chiefs warning The former head of security for the 2012 Olympics has warned that time is running out to effectively police the games. Tarique Ghaffur, who up until the autumn was in charge of ensuring security for the three weeks of sports, claims security planning is being undermined by cost-cutting and delays at the Home Office. Writing in the Daily Telegraph the former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police explicitly warns that time is running out and the £600 million security budget is "inadequate" Budget delayed Last month the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had to announce a third delay in delivering a detailed security budget, one was promised last year, then last September, and again for the end of 2008 - now it seems one won't be made public until early new year. Former Home Office minister John Patten, claimed that political in-fighting threatened to undermine police and intelligence agency efforts to ensure a safe Olympics. Ghaffur wrote: "In a world of international terrorist threats, chemical and biological weaponry and electronic sabotage, London needs a robust and effective security plan in place to protect the city and those attending the 2012 Games, from what I have seen and heard since I left the force I am concerned that there will be no time to deliver this ambition." A Home Office spokesperson said: "A draft security strategy, together with an accompanying concept of operations and the broad funding package, will be presented for sign off to the relevant ministerial committee next month."
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