Elite members of the Metropolitan Police joined military teams on the River Thames yesterday [Jan 19] to demonstrate their readiness for any potential attacks on the waterways of London during this summer's Olympic Games.

Counterterrorism minister James Brokenshire has said the national terror threat level will remain at severe throughout the event and over 150 officers and marines rehearsed a series of high-speed drills amid growing fears that the Thames may act as a launching pad for assaults on the capital's landmarks.

Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, head of the Force's security operation for the Games, said a Mumbai-style terror attack was one of a host of potential threats to the Games.

Speaking on the shores of the Thames, he said: "There is no specific threat from the river but we would be failing in our duty to ignore it at Games time.

"All of our planning is designed to mitigate against potential risks during the summer of 2012, and this is an example of where we will be using specialist military capability to support us - what you have seen today is [evidence of] the sort of things we can do."

Typhoon jets and HMS Ocean, the largest ship in the Royal Navy's fleet, will be deployed alongside marine police offers and 13,500 military personnel to protect the London 2012 Games.

A further issue worrying the government is the potential for metal thieves to disrupt transport services with MPs suggesting telling the BBC "train stoppages would be embarrassing when the world's attention is focused on the UK for the Games."

Labour MP Graham Jones has proposed a Metal Theft (Prevention) law that should get its second reading in the Commons today - for more information on the story as it develops follow @policingtoday or @cjsevents on Twitter with #metaltheft

The first ACPO Metal Theft Seminar takes place on 8th February at the Kettering Conference Centre, limited spaces are still available via www.metaltheftuk.com
Posted 20/01/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com