Met calls for command post

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Met chiefs have asked for funding for a National Olympic Co-Ordination Centre out of the event's £600 million security budget. It would house the "gold command" overseeing the operation to keep 17,000 athletes and officials safe.

Initially police had asked for the centre to be based at their Hendon training HQ but after long delays they are looking elsewhere. Proposals have been made to the Home Office, which has taken over responsibility for security planning from the Met. That transfer has been blamed for delays, with a costed security blueprint not expected until the end of the year. The blueprint would also cover MI5, private guards and the Army. It is almost certain an SAS unit will be on standby. A source said: "The Met might be looking to upgrade facilities and would argue they are needed for the Games."

At present major events are overseen from a Met command facility in Lambeth codenamed GT. Built to withstand bomb blasts, it links into CCTV and helicopter cameras. Met assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said Britain needed to invest now for VIP protection, firearms teams, dogs and mounted police.