Planning for Olympic Games Security Worked Well, Says Police Chief
The New South Wales Police Commissioner Peter RYAN said on Saturday that the years of planning and preparation for the security of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games appeared to have worked extremely well.
With only one and a half days until the Sydney Games close, he said that everything had run very smoothly, exceeding expectations.
‘Just about every eventuality that could occur had been rehearsed; our staff had been trained for. We learned an number of lessons obviously from previous Olympic Games and also from the test events,’ said RYAN.
Police are expecting large numbers of people at the Olympics Park venues and at the live sites throughout Sydney and other NSW cities on Saturday and Sunday,
‘This will impose an additional security requirement for the weekend,’ said Commissioner RYAN.
‘We have reinforced our commitment to continue at a high level of preparedness for any eventuality.’
High numbers of uniformed and plain clothes police will be on duty through the weekend, with support from the Australian Defence Forces.
‘We are continuing to keep the pressure up in terms of maintaining security at a high level,’ said RYAN
There had been no major security risks during the Olympic Games, said the commissioner.
Asked about any major challenges faced by security personnel, he said: ‘There was never a direct threat to the Games that we were able to ascertain through our international contacts and so far there has not been a threat develop.’
A number of mischievous threats were received and traced.
‘Action was taken by the police and the defence forces to make sure that any threat was thoroughly analysed and neutralised before it became a reality,’ said RYAN.
Asked about the major concerns of police, Commissioner RYAN said that ‘the greatest pressure placed upon (the security forces) has been the sheer numbers of people attending the live sites in the city.’
Asked what lessons could be taken forward for organisers of future Olympic events, he said: ‘First of all the need for one unified command chain over sighting security which brings together the disparate departments of State and government, local and federal.’
‘Second, to start early in the planning, using as much intelligence as you can muster.
‘Thirdly, to make sure that the people doing it are of the highest quality to produce a security overlay which must be rehearsed.
‘Then you must train people. You can’t get cheap security. It does not come cheap. It is the insurance policy. You might not need it, but when you do, you thank God you’ve got it.’
Paul McKINNON, Commander of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Security Command said ‘The most surprising features of these Games was intense family ownership of every aspect (of these Games). I never anticipated the absolute and fabulous support the citizens of my country have delivered to the Olympic Games.’
Source: SOCOG Olympic News Service