I debated this one ages ago, where in the UK the police and the military work together, under the overall control of the police, in an arrangement known as MACP .
Your news networks may not have deemed it interesting enough to cover, but there has been something of a `hoo ha` over here involving a private security contractor’s inability to recruit and retain sufficient staff to cover their contracted ££££commitment££££. Extra police and military have been drafted in to fill the gaps (because they’re always there).
For those who found the debate of interest, you can read my take on this one over at my place – its not obligatory and there is no commitment to turn up if you don’t want to (now I’m getting all sarky).
I’ll have to read this tonight off work, Hogday, but all though this I am wondering with years to get their act together the private company’s problems are just now becoming public? It sounds like poor company management, regardless of the fact of the difficulty of trying to recruit people for essentially a short part time job – years in advance.
Then too the specter of a private company and the military/police sharing information has an Orwellian aspect to it.
But then have a tragedy like Munich 1972 – or even worse – mass murder from a bomb in the stands – and all these issues and problems will pale.
The joys of Olympic organizing…
I don’t like a private company having intel databases. However, I don’t mind properly screened and security cleared private contractors working with the police/military to provide them with the intel they need to do their jobs.
I’m sure there are statistics out there to answer this question and I’m feeling too lazy today to make any effort to find them – how many host cities found that it helped them, long-term. Or is it enough to say We hosted the Olympics in XXXX.
Well the games were in Athens, Greece, a mere 8 years ago……best we prepare for a meltdown
Kris IIRC at least for Salt Lake the military was involved in at least planning security – whether they worked hand in had with a private company i don’t know
I read your full write up and having thought about what you said – how could anyone recruit someone several years in advance – train them and tell them that they will only be working a few weeks?
I would think the only people interested in that would be retirees.
On another angle of security at the Olympics caught this in my newest Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine hat RAF Tornados will patrol the skies over the Olympics – woe to any pilot violating the airspace
Tornados and a sqdn of Typhoons. One has to be prepared. Wonder what the R.O.E’s say – no, on second thoughts…
Hogday my friend … Was a little startled to read yesterday about the fact that a beachy site was being set up on the grounds of Buckingham Palace for the Ladies’ Volleyball teams to compete in the games. Although it sounds like “a charming conceit,” this would seem to pose some security problems for the Royals and those running the Games. I mean, I know Wicked Prince Harry would adore it, but it sounds like something we in Texas would call “a real goat roping” to keep everybody safe.
And how are they going to get rid of all that sand afterwards? I imagine that the Royal landscapers are having somewhat of a hissy fit.
Marianne
Dear Marianne, whatever next? Mud wrestling at Windsor Castle?