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Olympic torch relay cost £25,000 a mile to police
Matthew Beard, Evening Standard22 Apr 2008
The cost of security for the Olympic torch relay through London was almost £750,000 - about £25,000 for every mile of the 31-mile event.
Briefing papers from the Met showed the cost of policing the operation was £746,000. Of that total, £502,000 paid for police officer shifts and £244,000 went on "additional costs", which included £109,000 in overtime and £135,000 for air support, radio support, catering, barriers, road signs and specialist equipment. The operation involved 1,963 police officer shifts.
A total of 37 people were arrested during the relay when human rights protesters tried to extinguish the flame.
Television footage showed police officers barging some protesters out of the path of the torch, while other demonstrators who tried to rush towards it were bundled over and pinned to the ground.
The Met said officers took " appropriate and proportionate action" when "people attempted to breach the safety, security and safe passage of the torchbearer and convoy".
The documents also revealed that the participation of the Chinese flame security team was agreed in advance, but they had no executive powers. This was part of the legal agreement between the Greater London Authority and the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games.
The chairman of the London Olympic Committee, Lord Coe, and London Mayor Ken Livingstone were among those who criticised the escorts, branding them "thugs".
Of the 37 arrests on the day, 29 were for breaching the peace, seven were for public order offences and one was for handling stolen goods. Three people were bailed pending further inquiries while the remainder were cautioned, received a fixed penalty notice or were released with no further action.
The Met said the GLA took overall responsibility for the event, although police were in charge of security for the torch convoy and spectators.
