LONDON, (Reuters) – 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 yesterday. 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 percent as the coalition government attempts to rein in a record budget deficit approaching 11 percent 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.
