UK - OLYMPICS 2012/FILE: British police train to protect Olympic torch and bearers.
Record ID:
332492
UK - OLYMPICS 2012/FILE: British police train to protect Olympic torch and bearers.
- Title: UK - OLYMPICS 2012/FILE: British police train to protect Olympic torch and bearers.
- Date: 10th March 2012
- Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - APRIL 6, 2008) (REUTERS) FORMER SWIMMER DUNCAN GOODHEW CARRIES THE TORCH THROUGH CANARY WHARF
- Embargoed: 25th March 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAB845PWK8DJ0Q1ZUR01YGHVZRI
- Story Text: A special team of 28 unarmed Metropolitan Police officers will guard the 2012 Olympic torch as it travels around Britain on a 70-day relay before the London Games begin on July 27.
They were put through their paces on Friday (March 9) in a training session which included a mock-up of a sit-down protest, someone trying to grab the Olympic torch and a passer-by who wandered in to the path of the runners to try and get a picture taken.
Police Commander Bob Broadhurst, who will be in charge of the operation, said attention-seekers rather than protesters could be the biggest threat to the Olympic torch relay, which starts in Land's End, in the far south west, on May 19.
"I think the biggest trouble will be attention seekers, somebody trying to run alongside and grab a bit of the glory. I am sure we will get the odd protest now and again up and down the country but the key point, I would say, is why would you want spoil somebody's big day in the Sun by protesting?" Broadhurst said.
In stark contrast to the high-profile protests and strong security which some people believe marred the 2008 Beijing relay, British police say they want the focus to be on the torch and its bearer.
But Broadhurst warned: "We will be as tough and robust as we need to be."
British Minister for Police and Security James Brokenshire said police were vigilant, but nonetheless treating the Olympics as a "real community event".
"We think that this will be a real community event, that is how we are preparing for it, but at the same recognising that we do need to guard against potential disruption, that is what the training - the team that we have seen today have been preparing for. But it is not what we are actively expecting or anticipating. We want this to be a great special event for the Olympics are but also being prepared, being being ready, vigilant. That is what the police approach is all about," he explained.
Before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, thousands of protesters waving Tibetan flags and shouting "Shame on China" disrupted the torch's marathon relay through London, which had been billed as a journey of harmony and peace.
Police arrested more than 35 demonstrators as the Olympic torch relay led to angry protests across London. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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