SENIOR Scottish police are digging their heels in over a request to provide almost 1000 officers to police the London Olympics next year.
The Herald can reveal that at a recent meeting to discuss the security of the event, Scottish police were asked to provide between 950 and 1000 officers.
However, they said that, according to current numbers of specialists, they could only provide between 750 and 800.
Sources claim Scottish officers are “drawing a line in the sand”.
Large public events commonly require mutual aid from forces and the Olympics will be no exception. The numbers of officers required is calculated using an “almus test” and varies depending on perceived threat levels.
According to the latest almus test for the Olympics, forces in England and Wales would require almost 1000 officers from north of the Border. However, there is concern that “could leave the cupboard bare” in Scotland -- particularly in relation to specially trained firearms and public-order officers.
A source said: “Based on current figures there is a significant shortfall and the numbers being requested are expected to increase. There will be five assessments of the numbers of officers required before the Olympics.
“Three have been done so far and there are concerns about how enough specialist officers will be found in the context of massive cuts to police numbers in England and Wales. Scotland can’t be expected to bail them out because they are cutting back. We are drawing a line in the sand.”
Not since the Second World War has London demanded such an intensive policing operation. However, it comes at a time when officers south of the Border face massive cuts.
Les Gray, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “They are going to find themselves short and we are going to politely say no. Scottish forces can’t sacrifice numbers here.
“The situation in England and Wales is very difficult because they are cutting so many officers and because of discontent over the Winsor Review.”
Following the first report of the Winsor Review, commissioned by the Home Office, police chiefs warned 28,000 jobs -- including 16,000 support staff -- could be cut in England and Wales.
David O’Connor, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, said: “Forces in England and Wales are cutting far too far and far too deep and we don’t have the numbers to send that level of support.”
Assistant Chief Constable Cliff Anderson, general secretary of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: “Scotland has agreed in principle to deploy officers to assist at the Olympics and planning is under way. No firm request for officers is planned until early next year.
“Only a small proportion of Scotland’s overall firearms capability has been identified as potentially being utilised for the Games mutual aid provision.”
Given their global importance the Games are ranked by governments as being at severe risk of terrorist attack. Police in the UK fear the London Games could become a target.
Senior Met officer Chris Allison, the UK lead on security for the event, has warned policing is “not going to be easy”.
A spokesman for Acpo in England and Wales, said: “Every UK police force, including those in Scotland, will play a vital part in delivering this once-in-a-lifetime national event. Mutual aid will be supplied by every force proportionate to their size to ensure no force is committing above another. Through a range of techniques, such as limiting annual leave and postponing non-essential training, the police service will maximise the number of officers available to keep the Games safe and secure.”
Hampden Park in Glasgow will host some matches in the men’s and women’s football tournaments. Firearms teams will be deployed by Strathclyde Police to ensure venues, training camps and accommodation in the Glasgow area are not viewed as soft targets.
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