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Boroughs 'lack a 2012 terror plan'
Nicholas Cecil11.03.09
Too little is being done to protect east London from a terror attack at the 2012 Olympics, peers and town hall chiefs warn.
They fear that while the Government, police and the security services are focusing on the Olympic stadium, not enough is being done to safeguard surrounding areas.
During a parliamentary inquiry into civil emergencies Sir Robin Wales, mayor of Newham, raised concerns about the potential threat to the Olympic boroughs Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest and Hackney. "There would appear to be no programme as yet for identifying borough terrorism risk sites," he told the Lords EU committee.
He said not enough attention was being paid to protecting Stratford station, as well as electricity sub-stations and water pumping plants.
The Government was criticised by peers for taking part in too few exercises on chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attacks, and should liaise with the European Monitoring and Information Centre.
Crossbench peer Lord Mawson said: "There is a serious disconnect between what is happening on the inside of the 11-mile blue fence and the areas around it." These were "at least as vulnerable" as the Games sites, the committee said.
The Home Office defended the £600million security masterplan for 2012. Cabinet Office minister Tom Watson added: "I think you can be reassured intelligence services are doing all they can to ensure threats in that area are being kept in check."
Reader views (6)
Mark my words the end figure will be £20Bn.
- Jimbob, Kensington
If it does kick off we only have ourselves to blame. Shame.
- Steve, London
Bring all our brave soldiers back from Iraq and Afghanistan and they will then be on stand-by for any possible threat to security in London.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
Is this thing still being built? Given the way things are going lets just throw more money in to it.
- Lauren, London
I thought that one of the reasons the original £2bn budget was so low for this festival of running about, jumping and throwing things, was because the brain surgeons in charge did not allocate any funds for security. They have added at least £1bn to the budget to cover this, which should be plenty.
Then again, cancel the whole charade and the problem goes away.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
I'm sure that we can get a new head of security for £800,000 a year plus benefits who'll then hire a series of sub contractors on £250,000 a year to do the actual job for them. Isn't that how it works with the Olympic staffing?
- Bob, Cheam
